Is this investigative journalism?: HC slams media trial in SSR death case

The Bombay High Court slammed the media trial during the reportage of the Sushant Singh Rajput death case by a leading news channel, and questioned whether speculations and infringing upon an individual's rights was "investigative journalism".

Mumbai (Maharashtra): The Bombay High Court on Wednesday demanded to know from a leading news channel if asking viewers who should be arrested in a case in which a probe is going on, and infringing upon a person's rights qualified as "investigative journalism".

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni was referring to a hashtag campaign, and several news reports related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput that the channel broadcast.

The court pointed to the channel's #ArrestRhea hashtag campaign on Twitter.

It also asked the channel's lawyer Malvika Trivedi why the channel broadcast photos of the dead body, and speculated on whether the actor's death was a case of suicide or homicide.

"The grievance is regarding #arrestrhea. Why is this part of your channel news?" the bench said.

"When a case is under investigation and the issue is whether its a homicide or a suicide and a channel is saying it is murder, is all this investigative journalism?" it asked.

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The observations came while the bench was hearing the final arguments on a bunch of public interest litigations, seeking that the press be restrained in its reportage on the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

The pleas had also sought that TV news channels be stopped from conducting a media trial into the case.

The news channel meanwhile, responding to the court's queries said that its reportage on Rajput's death and the subsequent probe helped "unearth" several important elements in the case.

"Journalists have a right to bring public opinion on the forefront and criticise the government. It is not necessary that everyone will appreciate what is being projected by news channels. However, if a news makes a certain section uncomfortable it is the essence of a democracy," advocate Trivedi, the channel's counsel said.

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The court, however, said that it wasn't asking for the media's throat to he throttled, but that the press must recognise its boundaries.

"We are referring to the basic journalism norms, where a basic etiquette has to be maintained for suicide reporting.

No sensational headlines, no constant repeating. You did not even leave the deceased...forget the witnesses," the bench said.

"You have depicted a lady in such a way that infringes on her rights. This is our prima facie view," it said.

(With inputs from agencies)