WEB DESK
Patna High Court on Thursday directed all the media not publish any information related to the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case and expressed dissatisfaction over the transfer of CBI SP J P Mishra, who had been heading the probe.
“Under the circumstances, till the investigation is completed, all the print and electronic media are hereby restrained from reporting anything with respect to the case, more particularly, with respect to the investigation already undertaken and/or which is likely to take place as it may seriously hamper the investigation of the case. The State government and the CBI is directed to see that the above order is complied with everybody”, said the division bench of the Patna High Court comprising chief justice Mukesh R. Shah and justice Ravi Ranjan in a three-page oral order.
The court had also pulled up the investigating agency CBI for not submitting the status report and the sudden transfer of CBI SP, J.P. Mishra. The court further asked the CBI to explain the progress report in a “sealed cover” on August 27, the next date of hearing.
Bihar Advocate General Lalit Kishor promptly asked state chief secretary, home secretary and social welfare secretary to comply with the court order on restraining media from reporting investigation into the case.
Meanwhile journalists, members of civil society and politicians have reacted sharply what they called “ an exercise to gag the media”.