News channels shouldn't display contents of chargesheet in Shraddha Walkar murder case: Delhi HC

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that no news channel should display the contents of the chargesheet in the Shraddha Walkar murder case till the disposal of the petition filed by the Delhi police.

A single judge bench of Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar issued a notice in the plea by the Delhi Police which sought to restrain media houses from publishing, printing, and disseminating confidential information. This is applicable to such material collected during the investigation as well, reported the Indian Express.

The matter is listed for further hearing on August 3.

Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad said that the news channel Aaj Tak got the narco-analysis video of accused Aaftab Poonawala and the trial court restrained it. Prasad argued that the same order needs to be passed against all channels because if the video is telecasted, it could create prejudice.

Additional Sessions Judge Manisha Khurana Kakkar on Monday directed Aaj Tak to not telecast the contents of the narco-analysis and psychological assessment conducted on Poonawala for three days. The court also granted Delhi Police liberty to approach a higher court to exercise the same remedy against all media organisations.

Shraddha Walker was allegedly strangled to death on May 18, 2022, by Poonawala. He also chopped her body into several pieces after an argument. The Delhi Police had filed a 6,629-page charge sheet in the case on January 24.