Updated: September 3, 2020 10:17:51 am
The PIL alleged that “a section of television channels has been trying to influence the course of the investigation through their biased reports and false propaganda.”
Eight former senior Maharashtra police officers, including the former Maharashtra Police Director General (DGP) and former Mumbai Police Commissioners, have filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with the Bombay High Court seeking warrants restriction against ‘media trial’ in Sushant Singh Rajput Death Case.
The petitioners include former DGP PS Pasricha, K Subramaniam, D Shivanandan, Sanjeev Dayal, Satish Chandra Mathur and former Mumbai police commissioners Mahesh N Singh, Dhananjay N Jadhav and former head of the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) KP Raghuvanshi.
The PIL stated: “A section of television channels has been trying to influence the course of the investigation carried out by the central agencies through their biased reports and false propaganda. This has created an air of suspicion in the minds of the general public about the facts of the case under investigation and also about the Mumbai Police, health services and other state support services. “
The plea called out “presenters from some television channels (who) have been conducting a 24 × 7 vituperative campaign against the Mumbai police and their commissioner, area DCP and other officers attacking them by name in the most inappropriate manner “.
Further emphasizing the right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise, the statement stated that it is important in India’s criminal justice system, but is “gravely violated by the media conducting its own judgment and create an atmosphere of prejudice. “
The PIL further said that the “irresponsible” coverage is affecting the image of the Mumbai police in the public mind. It stated that the “media trial” resulted in a “parallel investigation” carried out by individuals, issuing opinions, exposing material witnesses and disclosing crucial evidence before being investigated by the investigating agencies.
The allegation read: “False, irresponsible and malicious propaganda is likely to erode public trust in the police institution in particular and in the state’s law enforcement apparatus in general. The Mumbai Police is one of the oldest police forces in India and has always enjoyed a very high reputation for professional competence and public service. Therefore, any malicious and irresponsible attempt to kill him is not in the public interest.
In view of this, PIL requested various instructions from the Central Government, the Press Council of India, the Association of News Broadcasters, the News Broadcasting Standards Authority and the state government to issue guidelines to the media companies of communication to refrain from posting and circulating any false, derogatory and scandalous comments. , publications on social networks, news stories, which supposedly would endanger the reputation of the Police.
The PIL also sought to ensure that the reporting of crimes and criminal investigations be carried out in a balanced and objective manner and that it does not become a media trial and a “campaign of denigration” against the Police and investigators. Media organizations should pursue ethical reporting and responsible journalism rather than sensationalism for Television Rating Point (TRP), the statement said.
The PIL requested instructions from the government and media regulators to establish guidelines on how and how to cover any pending investigation cases, including court proceedings, particularly applicable to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.
The PIL was filed Monday through Crawford Bayley & Company and Lead Counsel Milind Sathe and Counsel Chetan Kapadia and requested an urgent court hearing.
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