Delhi Riots: High Court To Hear Asif Iqbal Tanha’s Case Against Media Leak On August 02

The Delhi High Court will hear on August 02 a plea moved by Asif Iqbal Tanha against leak of his alleged confession statement to media in the larger conspiracy relating to 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma fixed the matter for consideration after Justice Amit Sharma and Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani recused themselves from hearing it recently.

Advocate Sowjhanya Shankaran representing Tanha apprised the court that pleadings in the matter have been completed by respondents Delhi Police, Zee News and OpIndia.com. The court was also informed that YouTube and Meta were removed from the array of parties in November 2020.

“The counsel submits that intervention applications have been filed by NBF and NBDA and are pending disposal. Notice is yet to be issued. Let the matter be fixed for consideration on August 02,” the court said.

Justice Bhambhani had recused from the matter after News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) and News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) filed intervention applications as they apprehended that a decision in the case may lead to registration of FIR against journalists and also have an impact on the question of disclosure of sources. Before his elevation as a judge of the High Court, Justice Bhambhani practiced in media law and also had represented NBDA.

Tanha had filed the petition against various news reports which claimed he had allegedly confessed to organizing and inciting the Delhi riots. Zee News is one of the respondents in the case.

The plea pending before the court seeks direction against media houses for taking down sensitive information, allegedly leaked by police to them, in respect of the investigation.

Previously, Delhi Police had informed the court that during enquiry, the Enquiry Officer could not establish the officers or office from where the investigation details were allegedly shared with media. It also said that the Enquiry Officer had examined various media personnel who refused to share details of their sources from where they had accessed investigation related documents.

Title: Asif Iqbal Tanha v. State & Ors.