Patna High Court restrains media on Bihar tender scam coverage

Patna, June 26 (IANS) The Patna High Court has issued an interim order restraining media organisations from conducting what it described as a media trial in the case involving Bihar contractor Rishu Shree in connection with the alleged tender scam being investigated by the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU).

The order was passed by Justice Anshul during the hearing of a matter related to the SVU investigation.

The court emphasised that every accused person has a Constitutional right to a fair trial and said that sensational reporting should not prejudice judicial proceedings.

The High Court directed print, electronic, digital, and social media platforms not to portray the petitioner as guilty while the case remains pending before the court.

The court said that every accused has a paramount Constitutional right to a fair trial.

This right cannot be allowed to be compromised by sensationalist reporting, it added.

The interim order applies to television channels, newspapers, online news portals, podcasts, video-streaming platforms, and social media platforms.

The court specifically cautioned media organisations against using expressions such as mastermind, kingpin, scamster, and any other terminology implying that guilt has already been established.

According to the court, such descriptions could prejudice the ongoing proceedings and undermine the accused’s right to a fair trial.

The High Court clarified that balanced, factual, and impartial reporting of developments in the case may continue.

However, the court prohibited media trials based on alleged confessions, unverified investigative material, documents that have not been tested in court, and information that has not yet been judicially established.

The court said that irresponsible reporting could potentially influence the judicial process and interfere with the administration of justice.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 10.

The interim directions issued by the court will remain in force until further orders.

The case came into focus after the Special Vigilance Unit registered an FIR in connection with alleged irregularities involving contractor Rishu Shree.

Subsequently, the Bihar government suspended two IAS officers pending investigation.

On June 19, the SVU conducted searches at multiple premises linked to the suspended officers and a private contractor in Patna.

Investigative agencies are currently questioning Rishu Shree in connection with the case.

Earlier, the Patna Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate initiated proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The agency conducted searches at locations in Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gujarat.

According to the Enforcement Directorate, cash amounting to Rs 11.64 crore and various documents were seized during the searches.

Investigators are examining financial records, documents, and digital evidence as part of the ongoing probe.

The allegations and findings of the investigative agencies are currently under investigation and have yet to be tested in court.

–IANS

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