FIR against 3 pvt TV channels in Capital

A Delhi court orders registration of FIRs against three private TV channels for allegedly telecasting the interview of a rape victim's parents, terming their acts as "crime".

A Delhi court has ordered registration of FIRs against three private TV channels for allegedly telecasting the interview of a rape victim's parents, terming their acts as "crime".

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"The report prima-facie shows that India TV, Sahara Samay and IBN have committed the offence punishable under section 228 of the IPC. Accordingly, the SHO has been directed to register the FIR and investigate the matter as per law against these three channels," Metropolitan Magistrate M Devender Kumar Jangala said.

Section 228 of the Indian Penal Code states that whoever telecasts or prints a name, which reveals the identity of the rape victim, shall be punished with imprisonment of two years or fine or both.

As per the report filed by the SHO of the Swaroop Nagar police station, on May 9, 2008, some media personnel from Sahara Samay, India TV and IBN had allegedly entered into the police station and took the interview of the victim and her parents despite objection by the juvenile officer.

Even though the interview of the victim was telecast with blurred face, the interview of the parents was telecast by the above said channels without any blurring effect, it said.

The court had earlier on April 24 directed the media personnel not to disclose the identity of the victim. However, despite its directions, the interview of the victim and her parents was allegedly telecast by these television channels.