[Media Trial In Sushant Singh Rajput Case] Live-Updates From Bombay HC

"We have never given any story which is against the investigating agency. There are cases against us but we have been absolved of all," says Pandey for AajTak

& IndiaToday

Advocate Rajeev Pandey appears for Indian Today and Aaj Tak.

"There is nothing alleged against India Today & Aaj Tak in the present petition," he says.

NBSA says that these complaints against ABP news were wrt Sushant Sing Rajput Death Case wherein once a relative gave an interview at their own will and 2ndly when ABP news showed Sushant Sing Rajput's dead body with a white sheet in long shot.

Advocate for ABP News:

4 complaints, 2 of which were withdrawn after explanation.

In 2 of the complaints - warnings were issued.

A news report has to be read in whole and a liberal man will look at it wholly, Tandon for Times Now concludes his arguments

Reminded of an example - A priest goes to a village for a seminar and afterwards asks organisers what all there in village who tell him about various amenities including nightclubs. He says "Oh you have nightclubs?"

Next day, the media says "Do you have a Night Club"?

- Tandon

Ultimately there has to be a Lakshman Rekha with certain issues to it - there may be popular views, there may be unpopular views.

- Tandon for Times Now tells Bombay High Court

In Shashi Tharoor's case, Justice Manmohan of Delhi HC had said that curtailing media would lead to violation of 19(1)(a).

- Tandon for Times Now tells Bombay HC

For purposes of defamation it is important to see is that the defence is certain to fail.

Public figures have to be a bit more thick-skinned than a private person.

- Tandon for Times now tells Court

The direction that came in the Delhi HC that the police should not go to the press and talk about pending cases, the court thought it best that the police not report anything to the media as a neutralising device for the pending investigation, Tandon for Times Now in Bombay HC