Madras High Court restricts discussion of factual details in child abuse case
The Madras High Court has barred media organisations and digital platforms from discussing factual details of a child sexual abuse investigation involving R. Veeramani and others. The court permitted broader discussion of child abuse issues, directed weekly police updates and ordered an interim halt to circulation of related videos and screen grabs.
The Madras High Court has restrained mainstream media, YouTube channels and other digital platforms from discussing the factual details of a child sexual abuse case under investigation by the Greater Chennai City Police. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan said media could continue discussing issues arising from child abuse, provided those discussions did not address the factual matrix of the case involving R.
Veeramani of Gem Granites and others. The judge also issued an interim injunction preventing outlets and other entities from publishing, broadcasting, transmitting, circulating, reproducing or otherwise disseminating videos or screen grabs connected to the crime under investigation. The orders followed a petition by Tulir Charitable Trust, which works on the prevention and healing of child sexual abuse.
The petition concerned the telecast of child sexual exploitation and abuse material by television channels including India Today, Republic TV and Sathiyam TV. To preserve public access to information about the investigation, the court directed an all-women Special Investigation Team to issue weekly press releases. The team was constituted by Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal.
State Public Prosecutor R. John Sathyan told the court that police had decided to register a separate first information report over the leak of videos related to the case. He said investigators were attempting to identify those responsible and denied that the material had been leaked by the police department.
The court said further victims might not feel able to approach investigators if videos involving victims continued to appear on television and online platforms. It also stressed that the rights of the accused could not be disregarded, even in a case involving allegations that were strongly condemned. The court recorded submissions that the Centre and State police had taken steps to remove objectionable videos from online platforms.
It adjourned the case until September 30, after respondents file their replies.
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