Shraddha Walkar Murder Case: Delhi High Court Restrains News Channels From Broadcasting Contents Of Chargesheet

The Delhi High Court has restrained all media channels from showing or displaying material of the chargesheet in relation to the Shraddha Walkar murder case.

Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar issued notice on the plea moved by Delhi Police seeking to restrain the media channels from displaying the contents of the chargesheet collected by it till date.

The court also directed the Union of India to pass appropriate orders to the media agencies from publishing, printing and disseminating “confidential information” contained in the chargesheet and other material collected in the case and to ensure that the guidelines are complied with.

The matter is now listed for hearing on August 03.

Aaftab Poonawalla allegedly killed his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar in May last year. It has been alleged that Aaftab allegedly chopped her body into 35 pieces and disposed the pieces in batches in forests of Delhi.

The Delhi Police approached the High Court after the trial court recently granted it liberty to approach a higher forum for seeking relief, while restraining only Aaj Tak news channel from displaying the contents of the chargesheet, including the recordings or transcript of narco analysis of the accused, recorded during the investigation.

During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad appearing for Delhi Police submitted that Aaj Tak news channel has been restrained by the trial court from showing the content in question. However, he requested that an order be passed against other news channels as broadcasting the content would prejudice the prosecution’s case.

While restraining Aaj Tak news channel, the trial court had observed that any dissemination of sensitive information pertaining to a murder case will definitely result in “psychological repercussions” on the accused and also on the victim's family.

“When the Article 21 of the Constitution protects the life and liberty of a person, it also contemplates a protection of psychological state of mind of such person,” the court had said.

The trial court had ordered that Aaj Tak news channel "shall not utilize in any form any material" related to the FIR till April 17, which was extended till April 20. 

Title: STATE OF NCT DELHI v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 324

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