New Delhi: Expressing strong objection to the coverage of the Sushant Singh Rajput case by several media institutions, the Press Council of India (PCI) on Friday said that the media should follow the rules of journalistic conduct in coverage in such cases. The Council has advised media institutions not to conduct their own ‘parallel litigation’ in this case.
The PCI said in a consultation that the media should not show the news in such a way that the general public begins to believe the indicted person’s involvement in the case. The council said that it had regretfully taken cognizance that coverage of a film actor’s alleged suicide case was a violation of the rules of journalistic conduct by many media institutions and therefore advised the media to follow the rules set by the PCI Is given.
The PCI said that it is not desirable to publish the information on the basis of the hearing heard about the direction of investigation being done by the official agency about the crime. He also advised that it is not appropriate to give news on a daily basis with great emphasis in the case related to crime and to report on them without determining the truth of the evidence. The consultation said that such reporting causes undue pressure on impartial investigation and prosecution.
The council said that it is also important to refrain from revealing the identity of the witnesses by the media as it puts them under pressure from the accused and the investigating agencies. The PCI said, “The media is advised to avoid giving excessive publicity to victims, witnesses, suspects and accused as doing so would be an encroachment on their right to privacy.”
