[BREAKING] Dileep plea: Kerala High Court orders probe into alleged violations by Reporter TV, other media on trial court gag

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday ordered the Kerala Police to investigate into the allegations by cine actor Dileep that news channel Reporter TV and other media outlets violated a trial court order which had imposed a gag on media from reporting proceedings in the actress assault case in which Dileep is one of the main accused. [P Gopalakrishnan @ Dileep v State of Kerala & Ors.].Single-judge Justice Kauser Edappagath passed the order on a plea by Dileep to restrain media from reporting on the trial proceedings till the pronouncement of final judgment."The petitioner (Dileep) has highlighted various instances suggesting violation of Ext.P3 order (trial court gag order). The instances pointed out by the petitioner cannot easily be brushed aside. Hence, the first respondent (State Police Chief) shall conduct an enquiry as to the allegations made in this writ petition regarding the flagrant violation of the trial court order and file a report at this court within two weeks. Needless to say, if any such allegation is found to be true, appropriate action under law shall also be initiated" the Court ordered.Needless to say if any such allegation is found to be true appropriate action under law shall be initiated, it added..Dileep in his petition, had pointed out that when the trial before the sessions court began, there was a huge media furore. Dileep, the eighth accused in the case, had then moved the Additional Special Sessions Judge (SPE/CBI )-III, Ernakulam for issuing a direction to prohibit media publication of court proceedings.The trial judge had allowed Dileep's plea and directed that nobody should print or publish the proceedings in connection with the case except the matters permitted as per the directions of the Supreme Court in Nipun Saxena & Anr. v Union of India & Ors.However, according to Dileep, despite the trial judge's gag order, the media continued to publish matters in violation of Section 327(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.This prompted him to approach the High Court through advocates Philip T Varghese, Thomas T Varghese, Achu Shubha Abraham, Litha VT, Monisha KR and Nitya R.The petition before the High Court particularly mentioned Reporter TV, the promoter of which has been arrayed as the third respondent.The CEO of the company, Nikesh Kumar, a journalist and politician was cited as a prosecution witness and had deposed before the trial court which scheduled his re-examination on December 29, 2021."While so, the 3rd respondent telecast through their ‘Reporter TV’ as ‘Breaking News’ and ‘Exclusive’, interview with a person named Mr. P Balachandra Kumar on December 25, 2021," the plea claimed..Kumar also appeared along with Balachandra Kumar and both of them made statements alleging that Dileep was a close acquaintance of the first accused, Pulsar Suni.Pertinently, the plea also alleged that the statements made by Balachandra Kumar were tutored by the investigating officer in the case "with the deliberate intention to prejudice the mind of the public against the petitioner and influence the outcome of the trial which is pending before the Sessions Court."Senior Counsel T Krishnanunni appeared for Dileep..The matter will be heard again after two weeks by which time the State Police Chief is expected to file a report before the court on the enquiry conducted by it into the allegations made by Dileep..[Read Order]