Report only facts, court tells media

The Mumbai sessions court which is conducting the trial of the hit-and-run case involving actor Salman Khan, on Friday asked the media to report only facts and not to engage in discussing the merits and demerits of the prosecution and defence.

“You all are here, please report facts only, please report what is happening in the court, do not discuss merits and demerits of the statements made in the court… leave the job of judgment on me,” additional sessions judge D W Deshpande, who is presiding over the trial told the court. “You must stick to plain reporting,” he said.

Khan’s lawyer Shrikant Shivade pointed out to the notice of the court that often on TV channels there are panel discussions on the issue where people give their opinion. “It affects the case as often merits and demerits are discussed,” he said. The court also asked the media not to hold panel discussions till the trial of the case is over. Besides, the judge also restrained the media from reporting the recording of Khan’s statement under section 313 of CrPC, till it is fully complete.

“Do not give your opinion…’if this witness has said this, this would happen, if that witness has said that, so that would happen’, do not do this…what happens to the case, the court would decide,” he said.