The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rapped Republic TV for its reportage on the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, and asked whether the channe...
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rapped Republic TV for its reportage on the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, and asked whether the channel suggestively pronouncing on the merits of the matter that is sub judice and building public opinion on arrests constituted “investigative journalism”, Live Law reported.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice GS Kulkarni was referring to the #ArrestRhea campaign run by the channel on Twitter against actor Rhea Chakraborty after Rajput’s death. “Is this part of investigative journalism? Asking the public about their opinion on who should be arrested?” the bench asked advocate Malvika Trivedi, the channel’s lawyer.
It also asked the channel’s lawyer why Republic TV aired photos of the dead body, and speculated on whether the actor’s death was a case of suicide or homicide, PTI reported. “The grievance is regarding #ArrestRhea,” the High Court said. “Why is this part of your channel news?
The High Court made the observations on media trials while hearing the final arguments on a bunch of petitions seeking that the press be restrained in its reportage of Rajput’s death. Republic TV’s counsel had earlier told the court that the channel was carrying out investigative journalism to “unearth the facts” relating to the case.
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