A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice GS Kulkarni of the Bombay High Court has held that the media coverage by Republic TV and Times Now against Mumbai police in the case pertaining to death of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput is prima facie contemptuous but refrained from taking any action.

According to Bar and Bench, the court observed that trial by media interferes with the criminal investigation by Police and issued a slew of directions to the media to be followed while reporting incidents involving suicide and death of persons.  

Disposing of a batch of PILs seeking regulation of media trial, the Bench laid down several guidelines on reporting on crime. Some of the guidelines pronounced by the Bench in the open Court are as follows:

• Publishing a confession alleged to have been made by an accused as if it is an admissible evidence without letting the public know about its inadmissibility should be avoided;
• While reporting suicide, to suggest that the person was of weak character, should be avoided;
• Reconstructing of crime scenes, interviews with potential witnesses, leaking sensitive and confidential information should be avoided;
• Investigative agencies are entitled to keep secrecy about the ongoing investigation and they are under no obligation to divulge information.

The High Court has also adopted the suggestion of Senior Advocate Arvind Datar regarding the appointment of a Public Information Officer by Police to give authentic information about criminal investigations, reported LiveLaw.

The Division Bench has also clarified that its findings and observations in the judgment are not a reflection on the pending investigations and the concerned criminal court should decide the issues uninfluenced by the observations.

In previous hearings on the matter of media trial by channels in relation to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the court had reportedly asked the Advocates representing Republic TV, “If you become the investigator, prosecutor and the judge, what is the use of us? Why are we here? Is this part of investigative journalism? Asking public about their opinion on who should be arrested? When a case is under investigation and the issue is whether it’s a homicide or a suicide and a channel is saying it is murder, is that investigative journalism?”

The Bombay High Court today, on January 18 was pronouncing its verdict on a batch of petitions seeking guidelines for ethical reporting and responsible journalism, by all forms of media, especially at the investigation stage.

(To be updated with order)

Related:

Guilty as charged: Investigators, judge, jury and executioners of TV news ‘debates’
Right to free speech does not mean a licence to promote hate speech: Editors Guild of India
Delhi High Court tells Arnab Goswami to calm down and stop his media trials

The post Republic TV and Times Now reportage prima facie contemptuous: Bombay High Court appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Investigations probing Sushant Singh Rajput’s death have three central agencies working on multiple leads. However, for over two months now, the frenzied mobs of television news reporters, egged on by their bosses helming prime time shows, are hounding anything that moves around the building where Singh’s partner, actor Rhea Chakraborty lives. Egged on, sometimes on live TV,  by those anchoring ‘investigations’, and hosting pretend ‘trials’ on prime time TV, these reporters are seen haranguing any visitor to the housing complex, demanding answers to absurd questions. It is a given that the news anchors and their reporters have declared actor Rhea Chakraborty guilty of somehow causing the death of her partner, actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The official investigation agencies, however, have made no such allegations.

Among other things, she has been called “Vishkanya” or poisonous woman, a phrase that once belonged to  tacky film scripts of the 80s, but now even used by eminent personalities such as senior politician lawyer Subramanian Swamy. “Shake down Vishkanya Rhea we will get the plot of drugging SSR and murder. For that custodial interrogation required. Which means she will be arrested soon. The big unravelling for the national interest is smashing of the narcotics network,” he demanded in a social media post. And then went on to say similar things to the TV anchors conducting the ‘investigation’. 

Shake down Vishkanya Rhea we will get the plot of drugging SSR and murder. For that custodial interrogation required. Which means she be arrested soon. The big unravelling for the national interest is smashing of the narcotics network.

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) August 30, 2020

Dr Subramanian @Swamy39 always walks the talk,he is not going to let go if India’s national interest is compromised says Popular anchor @RShivshankar @TimesNow On his relentless efforts for justice to #SushantSingRajput #SSRJune14Truth @jagdishshetty pic.twitter.com/V4bxxpmKCL

— Mahesh Joshi (@MaheshJoshi_MJ) August 31, 2020

Investigations into various aspects of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death are now officially being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s national investigation agency, which it was tasked to do by the Supreme Court of India on August 19. Later the Narcotics Control Bureau, national drug law enforcement agency and the  Enforcement Directorate, the national economic law enforcement intelligence agency joined to investigate specific angles that emerged. None of that seems to make a difference to India’s leading television ‘journalists’, from carrying on a parallel investigations, often streaming, and screaming live on TV debates.

Thirty-four-year old Sushant Singh Rajput died, allegedly by suicide on June 14, and by July 25, his father KK Rajput and the family, had filed a first information report in Patna, his hometown, allegedly accusing Rhea Chakraborty and five others, of abetment to suicide. the death. For months now, multiple non experts have since then spewed half baked opinions on everything ranging from mental health issues, post mortem investigations, nepotism, drugs, and even witchcraft.

The unofficial investigation by the media, who have chosen to ignore issues of national concern such as rising cases of Covid-19, floods, starvation deaths, murders, and even the national economic crisis, and instead have decided to shred a woman’s character for the voyeuristic audiences. The media trail is illegal, and unethical to say the least. The Press Council of India in fact issued a media advisory on August 28. It has asked the media “to adhere to the Norms of Journalistic conduct in covering cases under Investigation.”

According to the PCI statement, it has “noted with distress that coverage of the alleged suicide by a Film actor by many media outlets is in violation of the Norms of Journalistic Conduct and, therefore, advises the Media to adhere to the Norms framed by the Press Council of India”. It added that “ the Media should not narrate the story in a manner so as to induce the general public to believe in the complicity of the person indicted. Publishing information based on gossip about the line of investigation by the official agencies on the crime committed is not desirable. It is not advisable to vigorously report crime related issues on a day to day basis and comment on the evidence without ascertaining the factual matrix. Such reporting brings undue pressure in the course of fair investigation and trial.”

The PCI also advised media houses to “refrain from giving excessive publicity to the victim, witnesses, suspects and accused as it will amount to invasion of their privacy rights. Identification of witnesses by the Media needs to be avoided as it endangers them to come under pressure from the accused or his associates as well as investigating agencies.”

It has unequivocally advised the media “not to conduct its own parallel trial or foretell the decision to avoid pressure during investigation and trial.” According to the PCI, the “reporting of the alleged suicide by the actor by some of the newspapers is also in violation of the norms formulated by the Council for reporting on suicide.”  The PCI norms clearly prohibit publishing stories about suicide prominently “and advises the media not to unduly repeat such stories. The media is expected not to use language which sensationalise or normalises suicides or presents it as a constructive solution to the problems. The Media is advised not to use sensational headlines or use photographs, video-footage or social media links while reporting on suicide cases.”

However, all of the above violations continue to be done by many mainstream media houses. Most continue to victimise and attack Rhea Chakraborty, and only two media houses, NDTV, and India Today, gave her a platform to air her side of the story. The others, prominently Republic TV, and Times Now, continue to project her as one of the prime suspects, and alleged that there are political connections in the case, as well as the involvement of the ‘drug’ mafia as well.

Taking note of this escalating situation, the Network of Women in Media, India, (NWMI) has strongly denounced the media trial being carried out by a section of TV news channels in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. The NWMI reiterates that the “coverage of the case smacks of crass sensationalism and voyeurism, with TV news channels setting up kangaroo courts to declare individuals guilty even as an investigation is ongoing.”

It notes that “each day brings with it a new low in TV news channels’ coverage, from leaking private chats to making fact-free insinuations to splashing triggering images of the deceased.”  The NWMI stated that while it upholds the media’s right to cover a case, in the public interest, with relevant facts, the “reporting should be carried out respecting journalistic norms of fairness, balance, impartiality and factual accuracy. The media must be mindful of its power to shape public opinion and remain alert and responsible in its reportage.”

The NWMI has made the following demands from the media fraternity:

1: End the media trial of Rhea Chakraborty and let investigating authorities do their job freely and fairly. There is currently a complaint against Chakraborty that three investigating authorities are probing. Journalists cannot and must not call for her arrest before the agencies finish their probe. It should be noted that at this juncture of the investigation — when there is not even a chargesheet in place — journalists cannot declare individuals guilty.

2. Respect the privacy of individuals involved in the case, including that of Sushant Singh Rajput. It is distressing to find channels leaking out details of his mental health when these details are clearly not meant for public consumption.

3. Report responsibly on issues of mental health. According to The Lancet, 197·3 million Indians suffer from mental health issues, including 45·7 million with depressive disorders and 44·9 million with anxiety disorders. In such a scenario, the media plays a huge role in shaping society’s response to mental health issues. It is extremely irresponsible for channels to make erroneous statements on depression and its symptoms. TV news anchors should immediately stop the guesswork on the state of Sushant Singh Rajput’s mental health and let agencies carry out their probes. In the meantime, news anchors are requested to use their reach to start a responsible dialogue on mental health issues with doctors and experts in the field. 

4. Several conspiracy theories from social media are making their way to primetime news. Journalists must carry out due diligence and not mindlessly give space to conspiracy theories from social media. 

5. Videos emerging from around Rhea Chakraborty’s apartment complex in Mumbai bear testimony to how news reporters from some news channels have turned into full-time harassers. A delivery man and a guard at the apartment complex were relentlessly hounded by reporters, who made a mockery of the exercise of news gathering. Editors and proprietors should note that they are party to this degeneration of TV news as a medium, and restore basic human decency to the profession.

However, none of that seems to have made an impact on TV news channels yet, for whom, even badly reported news is good news as long as it gets them views. 

Chronology of developments in Sushant Singh Rajput death probe.

TIMES NOW is the only channel that’s keeping you ahead of others with its SIT EXPOSES, stings & breaking news.

Stay tuned to TIMES NOW.#SSRTrueStory #SSRJune14Truth #RheaLieCaughtOut #SushantCaseBreakthrough pic.twitter.com/KVQYiQ1QoQ

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) September 1, 2020

#ReportForSSR | After 45 days of investigative reports, there is an attempt to block Republic from reporting on the SSR case. Do you support Republic’s #ReportForSSR campaign?

— Republic (@republic) September 1, 2020

Related: 

Not fair to label those with mental illness as ‘weak’
Media, right-wing spew venom over Sushant Singh Rajput’s death

The post Guilty as charged: Investigators, judge, jury and executioners of TV news ‘debates’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Image Courtesy:thewrap.com

On June 14, 2020, Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide. He was 34 and hailed from Patna. He started his career on television, slowly progressing to movies like MS Dhoni: An Untold Story, Kai Po Che and Chhichhore. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, he had many awards to his name and was widely appreciated as a ‘thinker’ whose passions extended to life beyond the arclights.

Rajput’s death sent shockwaves among the country and triggered a debate around depression, a malaise that has been exacerbated during the lockdown. However, unfortunately, Rajput’s death also showcased not only media insensitivity, but also the depths to which right-wing trolls could sink. 

Insensitive media

Soon after Rajput’s death, news channels camped outside his apartment in Bandra, Mumbai and also to his parents’ home in Patna. A lot of media houses, Aaj Tak in particular, were pulled up for their insensitive behaviour and lack of empathy. The media took it upon itself to solve the mystery behind his death – throwing out all theories, from a financial crisis to depression to finding links to the suicide of his ex-manager who jumped to her death last week. In light of the incident, Live Law reported that a practising advocate of the Delhi High Court has served a legal notice of defamation to India Today’s Chairman and Editor-in-Chief for the demeaning coverage of the actor’s tragic death. 

At his family home in Patna, a reporter from Aaj Tak kept prodding his bereaved father for a response regarding his son’s death. The channel also shamed the actor for his suicide by describing it as ‘Hit Wicket’ and broadcasting the details of the death, in an obvious bid to garner TRPs.

Other news channels that acted like a part of a pack of vultures hungry for eyeballs were India TV and Zee News.

Zee News, a serial hate offender, used a ticker with the words, “Patna Fail” to describe Rajput. India TV joined the brigade with unsympathetic words that are too malevolent to be put to print.

The actions of these news channels received a lot of flak from Twitter users who led #ShameonAajTak to trend widely. However, none of the erring channels have sent out an apology for their insensitive reportage.

We shouldn’t forget this @indiatvnews look at the tag line #shameonIndiatv #ShameOnAajTak #indiannewssucks pic.twitter.com/ACbidXMMxz

— Nonsense (@BeingNonsense) June 14, 2020

Hindi news channel Aaj Tak on Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death:

‘How did Sushant get hit wicket?’

(A term used in cricket) #ShameOnAajTak pic.twitter.com/mEvRFdbqgr

— Norbert Elekes (@NorbertElekes) June 14, 2020

#ShameOnAajTak | This is not Journalism. It’s just a bunch of vultures at work! pic.twitter.com/cuS2UGMAqc

— An Open Letter ? (@AnOpenLetter001) June 14, 2020

Another channel, News Nation, went a step ahead to show an image, though blurred, of Rajput’s lifeless body.

Pls take action against @NewsNationTV too pic.twitter.com/ciVqU9cAip

— Saif Siddiqui (@SaifSiddiquiINC) June 14, 2020

The lack of sympathy and disregard for the deceased actor’s family and friends prompted many to say, ‘let him go in peace’. The World Health Organization’s guidelines on responsible reporting on suicide suggest that people be educated about avenues where they can seek help to talk about their issues and that particular caution be applied when reporting about celebrity suicides and interviewing grieving friends and family members. The guidelines also suggest that details about the site and location shouldn’t be provided, the act shouldnt be ‘normalized’ and sensational headlines shouldn’t be provided.

#depression is a mental illness

*Died by suicide. Please report suicide sensibly journo friends. May the departed soul rest in peace. #WHO pic.twitter.com/5dmWnnCQGI

— Dr. Srinivas M.D (AIIMS) (@srinivasaiims) June 14, 2020

However, with the post mortem report still awaited, the reports by most of the Indian news channels are only maligning the actor’s integrity. Apart from this, the India news media is completely ignorant of the guidelines for responsibly reporting an act of suicide set by the WHO, and if not, they only continue with their despicable reporting in a bid to climb the TRP ladder. 

Right-wing hate speech

If the media reporting was not enough, the right-wing extremists ensured that Rajput was robbed of his dignity even during his death. Rajput, who had dropped his surname on Twitter in a sign of protest against the attack on Padmavat director Sanjay Leela Bhansali by members of the Karni Sena in 2017, was heartlessly trolled by right wingers after his death.

Hate offenders like Updesh Rana used unmentionable words against Rajput saying that he was relieved to hear the news and it was better for people like him to be dead.

इतनी घटिया सोच रखने वालों की असली जगह मेंटल हॉस्पिटल ही है।#सुशांत_सिंह_राजपूत#SushantSinghRajput #ripsushantsinghrajput pic.twitter.com/81ADKZmKHU

— Sohel Ansari (@SohelAnsari_) June 14, 2020

The hatred spewed by the right wing only shows their intolerance towards anyone expressing their views, an act depicting their unwillingness to extend empathy, an act that is highly condemnable.

Social media violations and police intervention

Post Rajput’s death, pictures of his deceased body were leaked and went viral on social media. Everybody from news channels to civilians, without using their better sense, distributed these pictures and some went a step further to create private social media accounts which held these pictures and were willing to sell this for gains.

These acts were so abominable that the Maharashtra Cyber Police had to intervene and issue warnings saying that the circulation of such pictures was against legal guidelines and court directions and were liable to invite legal action against the people circulating them. The police also urged people who already received these pictures, to delete them and not forward them to others.

A disturbing trend has been observed on Social Media platforms by Maharashtra Cyber that pictures of deceased actor Shri. Sushant Singh Rajput are being circulated, which are disturbing and in bad taste. (1/n)

— Maharashtra Cyber (@MahaCyber1) June 14, 2020

Sushant Singh Rajput’s death is untimely and unfortunate. It is sad to see that at a time when there should be support for the family and more openness and acceptance to talk about mental health issues, the lead for which should be taken by the media to disseminate help to a larger audience, there is instead callousness, sensationalism and vilification of a distressing event only to be reduced to a mere eyeball grabbing incident.

Related:

ठाकुर होने पर शर्म महसूस कर रहे हैं सुशात सिंह, हटाया सरनेम
Twitter blasts Zee News’ Sudhir Chaudhary on #ZameenJihad

The post Media, right-wing spew venom over Sushant Singh Rajput’s death appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 
जयपुर में पद्मावती पर बन रही फिल्म के विरोध में करणी सेना ने सेट पर हंगामा खड़ा किया था और भंसाली के साथ हाथापाई की थी। मीडिया रिपोर्ट के अनुसार संजय लीला भंसाली को थप्पड़ तक जड़ दिया था। दूसरी तरफ सुशांत सिंह राजपूत ने भी इस घटना की निंदा करते हुए इसके खिलाफ अपना विरोध जाहिर किया है और इसके लिए उन्होंने अपने सरनेम ड्रॉप कर दिया है। बता दे कि इस घटना के बाद से सुशांत सिंह राजपूत ने फिलहाल के लिए अपने नाम से सिंह और राजपूत हटा दिया है, क्योंकि पद्मावती का विरोध करने वाले ख़ुद इसी सरनेम को अपनी आन-बान और शान मानते हैं। 
 
सुशांत ने अपने ट्वीटर एकाउंट का नाम सिर्फ़ सुशांत कर दिया है और इसके सपोर्ट में लिखा है- हम जब तक अपने सरनेम के लिए ऑब्सेस्ड रहेंगे, हम भुगतते रहेंगे। अगर आप वाकई इतने साहसी हैं, तो पहले नाम को अपनी पहचान बनाएं। सुशांत ने आगे कहा है कि हिंसा करना बहादुरी नहीं है। आप डरते हैं इसलिए सिर्फ़ अंदाजो पर ही रिएक्ट करने लगते हैं। अपनी बात साबित करने के और भी तरीक़े हैं, लेकिन उसके लिए इंटेलीजेंस की ज़रूरत होती है।

Courtesy: National Dastak
 

The post ठाकुर होने पर शर्म महसूस कर रहे हैं सुशात सिंह, हटाया सरनेम appeared first on SabrangIndia.