Republic TV’s Petition Rejected By SC; Go to the High Court

Republic TV’s has petitioned that CBI probe into the matter at hand. They claimed to be targeted by Mumbai Police as they had questioned their inadequacy regarding Sushant Singh Rajput’s case.

Republic TV’s petition to move to the Supereme Court has been rejected by the Supreme Court.

In its statement, SC said that the channel should instead approach the Bombay High Court “like any other citizen facing investigation”. 

“You have already filed petition in high court. Entertaining this petition without high court sends message that we don’t have faith in high courts. Like any other citizens faces predicament of probe under Cr.P.C (Criminal Procedure Code) must go to high court,” court said.

There was a 3-judge bench comprising Justice D Y Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee. They collectively said that the High court has been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Republic TV should approach the High Court as the offices are close to Worli.

Senior advocate Harish Salve appeared on Republic TV and expressed disdain about the police commissioners giving interviews to media.

“We are concerned with the tendency of police commissioner to give interviews now a days,” Justice DY Chandrachud replied to Mr Salve without referring to the case.With such pressure Republic TV has now withdrawn its plea from the top court.

Mumbai Police has been against the petition filed by Republic TV, saying that the channel was making attempts to misplace the police investigations in the case.

Republic TV’s Petition Rejection

An extra petition was filed in the Supreme Court late last night. The Mumbai Police said in its complain that Republic TV is abusing the power of law by doing programmes in the case and “intimidating the witnesses”.

“Republic TV’s demand to transfer the probe to CBI is misconceived. Republic TV wants to thwart the probe into fudging of TRP ratings. Media trial is against free and fair probe. Arnab Goswami (Republic TV’s editor-in-chief) is holding programmes where this case is debated at length and contacting witnesses and interfering and intimidating the witnesses,” the police said in the affidavit.

Also Read:Provoked By Republic TV,  MBBS Student Threatens Mumbai Commissioner

Tw other news channels are also being investigated by the Mumbai Police. Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema as part of its probe into the alleged manipulation of ratings.

The channel’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami had said they will sue Mumbai Police for the allegations and that there is “not a single BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) report that mentioned Republic TV”. “The people of India know the truth. BARC has not mentioned Republic in any complaint,” he said.