Delhi HC seeks Centre’s stand on Rakul Preet’s plea on media reporting in Rhea Drugs Case

On Thursday, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Centre and ordered the authorities to take a decision on complaints raised by actor Rakul Preet Singh in her petition regarding alleged defamatory and unsubstantiated reporting against her in connection with the drugs case registered against actor Rhea Chakraborty and others by the Narcotics Control Bureau.

While passing the order, Justice Navin Chawla also said the court hopes media houses would show restraint and abide by the programme code and other guidelines while reporting the matter with regard to Singh.

The notice was issued to the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), Prasar Bharati, and the Press Council of India, seeking their response by October 15, the next date of hearing.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Singh in which she has submitted that the media has started a campaign against her, alleging that Chakraborty named her in the drugs case. Her counsel told the court that Chakraborty retracted her statement later but the media continues to connect her to the case.

The court was also told that the reports are leading to cancellation of her endorsement contracts. In her petition, Singh has sought a direction to restrain the media from such reporting and alleged violation of the programme code and guidelines issued by the Centre.

The court earlier asked Singh whether any complaint has been filed with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and asked NBA about the punishment for erring news channels. The Centre, while submitting that the actor was seeking a blanket order, submitted that an order of pre-censorship should not be passed.

However, the court stressed on exercise of restraint by the media in reporting.

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