Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 16: The state high court (HC) instructed the police not to leak information to the public when investigation is still in progress. It expressed its indignation at the fact that the police officers have been providing details about the progress in investigation during the course of investigation relating to criminal cases.

A division bench of the HC comprising Chief Justice A S Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraju, which heard a public interest litigation on June 14, told the police that till the investigation of criminal cases comes to an end, the police officers should not provide any details to the media either about the accused or the complainants. It gave four weeks’ time to the government to frame the rules in this regard and submit a report thereof to the HC.

The bench said that the investigating officers should not reveal any details about the criminal investigation when the investigation is still in progress. It also said that till the investigation concludes, no statements should be issued to the media either about the accused or the litigants.

The PIL had requested the HC to frame rules and regulations to regulate transmission of details in the electronic and print media when cases are still being investigated, and also against showing sexually explicit scenes. The HC, after hearing the concerned passed the above important order.

The HC told the police department that during the pendency of the investigation, the police officers should not say for example, claim in front of the media that they have 100 percent evidence against the accused. It also wanted to know from the government whether legal steps have been taken against the officers who issued such statements to the media. After warning that the court will issue judicial notices followed by stringent action if such cases happen again, it posted the hearing in the case to July 20.