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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday restrained all new channels from disseminating the content of the chargesheet in the Shraddha Walkar murder case.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Delhi police seeking to restrain news channels from publishing, printing, and disseminating confidential information contained in the chargesheet and other such materials collected during the course of the investigation in the case.

During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad apprised the court that news channel AajTak had got access to the narco-analysis video of the accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala. Prasad also informed the court that the trial court had restrained AajTak from displaying any such content, however, he stated that all the other news channels also need to be restrained. He contended that as Aaftab’s narco-analysis video might have been shared with others and if it gets telecasted, it would prejudice the case.

Taking note of the submissions, the bench of Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar directed the Centre to ensure that no news channel displays the contents of the chargesheet till disposal of the petition filed by the Delhi Police. Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on August 3, 2023.

Notably, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Manisha Khurana Kakkar of Saket Court on Monday had granted liberty to the Delhi police to approach the high court for restraining TV news channel AajTak from disseminating the content of FIR including digital evidence and others in connection with the Shraddha murder case.

The ASJ had issued a three-day order prohibiting Aaj Tak from airing the results of the narco analysis and psychological evaluation done on Aaftab Amin Poonawala, the accused in the Shraddha murder case.

It is to be noted that on April 10, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Ramesh Kumar Singh had restrained Aajtak and other news channels from disseminating the content of the chargesheet including digital evidence in connection with the Shraddha Walker murder case, and had stated that “It is already a settled law, that Chargesheet is not a Public Document”.

Background:

Aftab Poonawala was arrested on November 12, after Shraddha’s father filed a complaint against him. Shraddha and Aftab were living as live-in partners in Mehrauli, Delhi. According to sources, Aftab had killed Shraddha six months before his arrest. It is alleged that Aftab chopped Shraddha’s body into 35 parts and drew it in different places in Delhi.

Case Title: State of NCT Delhi v. Union of India & Ors.