"Do not cross-over," Bombay HC reprimands Republic TV in SSR media trial case

Mumbai: "You must know your boundaries and within your boundaries, you are allowed to do everything. Do not cross-over," the Bombay High Court on Wednesday said to the counsel of Republic TV while hearing a batch of public interest petitions seeking regulation on media trial in the wake of coverage of Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice GS Kulkarni expressed disapproval of the manner in which Sushant's death was reported. Aaj Tak, India TV, Zee News and ABP News are also respondents in the case.

"There are certain Suicide Reporting guidelines. There should be no sensational headlines. Don't you have respect for the dead? It is so unfortunate," the bench remarked.

The lawyer appearing for Republic TV told that there were lacunae in the Mumbai police's investigation.

To this court said that "investigative powers are given to the police under the CrPC."

The Court referred to a hashtag #ArrestRheaNow, created on social media by the channel and said that the hashtags are about settling personal scores.

"This post is not in very good taste, it is in vernacular. Your reporter is trying to say that he was present on the crime scene," the court said.

The court will continue the hearing on the petitions October 23.

It may be recalled that a few days ago, the Kerala High Court had in an order warned the media on reporting about sub-judice cases.

"Stringent actions will be taken by this court," the bench of Justice PV Kunhikrishnan had said.

The High Court reaffirmed, "An investigating officer cannot divulge any material collected during the investigation to the public or media."