Disha Ravi toolkit case: High Court cautions media over sensationalised reporting

Toolkit case: High Court has directed police to strictly abide by its stand that it has not leaked nor intends to leak probe details.

Thee Court has also asked media not to broadcast leaked investigation material as it could affect probe

This comes after Disha Ravi, accused in the toolkit case, approached the Delhi High Court on Thursday seeking a direction to the Delhi Police to not leak any investigation material in relation to FIR filed against her to any third party, including the media.

Ravi, in her plea filed through advocates Abhinav Sekhri, Sanjana Srikumar and Krishnesh Bapat, sought to issue a direction to Delhi Police not to leak any investigation material in relation to FIR including alleged contents of private chats and communication by her to any third party, including the media. Ravi’s advocates urged the Delhi High Court to issue a direction to the Union of India to take appropriate action against certain media organisations and all other satellite TV channels under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, and restrain them from publishing the contents and/or extracts of any alleged private chats (including WhatsApp chats) between her and third parties.’

Ravi’s counsel also sought to issue a direction to News Broadcasting Standards Authority to take appropriate action against certain media houses and other members of private news broadcasting channels under its guidelines for reporting on Ravi in a manner that is violative of fair trial rights and right to privacy.

Ravi urged the court to issue a writ of mandamus or writ of like nature directing certain media houses and all private satellite TV channels to comply with the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

The climate activist’s plea asked the court to issue a direction to the respondent media house to forthwith take down the tweets that disclose the content of petitioner’s alleged private WhatsApp chats and to forthwith take down its article based on the material extracted from an alleged WhatsApp conversation between the petitioner and one Greta Thunberg.