Chennai: The Madras high court has asked the print and electronic media to think twice before reporting any information in connection with a matter under investigation by police to ensure that such reporting does not impede investigation in any manner.
Upholding the life sentence against two persons in a case of kidnapping for ransom of a class 9 city boy of 14 years in 2010, a Division Bench of Justices S. Nagamuthu and V. Bharathidasan said
“We would like to state that democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information, which are vital to its functioning and also to contain corruption and to hold the government and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed”.
Section 7 of Right to Information Act has stated there shall be no obligation to give any citizen information which would impede investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders.
The Bench questioned the police whether this provision has been followed.
The court directed police to follow section 7 of RTI Act and section 172 (3) of Cr.P.C.
Highlighting this, the Bench dismissed the appeal filed by accused Prabhu and Vijay, who were awarded life sentence by Principal Sessions Judge, Kancheepuram at Chengalpattu.
While confirming the life sentence, the Bench found fault with the press conference by the then police Commissioner which contradicted with the prosecution version with regard to presence of police personnel at the time of ransom paid by father of the boy to the accused and the sum was paid under the very nose of police.
The Bench said “The explanation offered by the then police Commissioner (was) that he gave such an interview to the press only based on the information furnished to him by his subordinate officer. Thus, it is crystal clear that the Commissioner had no personal knowledge about the fact that the police personnel were deployed at the place of occurrence at the time when the ransom was transacted.”
