Media violating journalistic norms in covering Rajput’s case: Press Council

A day after a plea was filed in the Bombay High Court seeking postponement of what is being described as a media trial by several news channels and reporters in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, the Press Council of India (PCI) today slammed media for its coverage of the case in violation of the Norms of Journalistic Conduct.

It advised the media not to conduct its own parallel trial or foretell the decision to avoid pressure during investigation and trial.

"The Council has noted with distress that coverage of the alleged suicide by a Film actor by many media outlets is in violation of the Norms of Journalistic Conduct and, therefore, advises the Media to adhere to the Norms framed by the Press Council of India", the PCI said.

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It added that the media should not narrate the story in a manner so as to induce the general public to believe in the complicity of the person indicted.

"Publishing information based on gossip about the line of investigation by the official agencies on the crime committed is not desirable", the PCI said.

The reporting of the alleged suicide of actor Sushant Singh, the PCI said, by some of the newspapers is also in violation of the norms formulated by the Council for reporting on suicide.

"The media is expected not to use language which sensationalise or normalises suicides or presents it as a constructive solution to the problems", PCI stated.

It also advised the media not to use sensational headlines or use photographs, video-footage or social media links while reporting on suicide cases.

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Earlier this month the Supreme Court had approved a CBI probe into the death of Sushant Singh.

An FIR was registered in Patna against actor Rhea Chakraborty and others for alleged offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 306 (abetment of suicide), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).