India News | Don't Harass Journalists, HC Tells Police Team Probing Varsity Sexual Assault Case
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. The Madras High Court on Tuesday orally directed the Special Investigation Team probing the Anna University sexual assault case, not to harass journalists over the leak of FIR in the matter.
Chennai, Feb 4 (PTI) The Madras High Court on Tuesday orally directed the Special Investigation Team probing the Anna University sexual assault case, not to harass journalists over the leak of FIR in the matter.
Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan also directed the journalists to cooperate with the investigation.
The judge was passing orders on a batch of petitions filed by Chennai Press Club and three reporters whose cell phones were seized by the police under the guise of investigation.
Earlier, when the case came up for hearing, Advocate K Elangovan, appearing for Chennai Press Club, Advocates K Balu, Jyothimani, Vivekanandan and C Arun, appearing for the three reporters submitted that printing and publishing the identity of the victim was prohibited under law.
No print or visual media revealed the identity of the victim. However, the reporters were summoned. On receipt of the summons, they participated in the inquiry relating to the FIR leak case. But to their surprise, their cell phones were seized by the SIT, the advocates added.
They said the SIT gave a questionnaire to the journalists containing 56 questions. Most of the questions were related to private information and about their family. The reporters were summoned thrice and questioned. The SIT under the guise of investigation, harassed them.
The FIR was uploaded on the police' official website. When it was available in public domain, there was nothing wrong in downloading it. Anybody can download it. Moreover, the SIT has not conducted an inquiry with the officer who uploaded the FIR. Therefore, this court may restrain the SIT from harassing the journalists, the advocates added.
Government advocate Muhilan submitted that the reporters were not harassed by the SIT. As a part of investigation, they were summoned and inquired. If there were irrelevant and unnecessary questions, the SIT will delete it, he added.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the judge said he will pass a detailed order giving several directions.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)