A judge of the Telangana High Court criticised two news channels yesterday for attempts to “thwart and derail” the judicial process by “making attempts to tarnish my image”.

Justice M Laxman’s comments on Mahaa News and ABN News Telugu were part of an order passed yesterday granting bail to Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy in the YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case. 

“I have greatest regard to press and news media which is fourth estate and which is forerunner in preserving democracy,” the judge said. “They have every right to express their opinion...Day by day, reputation of such important institution is eroding but for some individuals.”

The judge said the two news channels aired primetime debates on May 26 that had “views of selective personnel of their choice...to intimidate, to threaten and to damage my reputation by personal attack”.

This included a panellist, a suspended judge, who alleged “money bags went to judge”. Another participant “used derogatory language and gestures which are aimed to tarnish my comprehension and competency abilities”, Justice Laxman said.

Worried about the high court’s “institutional image”, the judge said he was “greatly hurt” not by individual comments but by the “facilitation” of such comments by “selective media”.

Justice Laxman then directed the high court registry to place the order and the video clippings from Mahaa and ABN News Telugu before the Chief Justice for “appropriate action”.

This isn’t the first time that media frenzy has overtaken the facts of a case. Last year following the arrest of Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, in a narcotics case, primetime debates overflowed with allegations of “drug cartels” and “rave party”. Read all about it here.