‘Psychological repercussions’: Court restrains Aaj Tak reportage on Shraddha murder case

A Delhi court has told Aaj Tak not to publish or telecast any material linked to the Shraddha Walkar murder case, LiveLaw reported. It said the channel shall “not utilise in any form any material” related to the FIR till April 17.

Shraddha’s live-in partner Aaftab Poonawalla has been accused of killing her and disposing of her mutilated body parts. 

This came after the Delhi Police submitted an application to restrain Aaj Tak and other media channels from telecasting information related to the case. The prosecution said that Aaj Tak was considering telecasting certain recordings or transcripts of narco analysis of the accused. It said this could impact the case as well as the accused and the victim’s family.

Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Kumar Singh said that telecasting sensitive information in a murder case can have “psychological repercussions” on the accused and the victim’s family, according to LiveLaw.

The court also said a chargesheet is “not a public document” and cannot be made available for “public consumption”. It also said that according to the Delhi High Court rules, a third person can’t obtain copies of a judicial record in a pending case unless the court is given sufficient reason.

Newslaundry had earlier reported on how the case was turned into a primetime spectacle with misogyny, bigotry and victim-blaming by sections of the media.