Disclose source of alleged confessional statement of Delhi riots accused: Delhi HC tells Zee News

Delhi High Court has directed Zee News to disclose the source from where it received the alleged confessional statement of a Delhi riots accused. (Asif Iqbal Tanha vs State & ors).A Single Judge Bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru was hearing a petition filed by accused, Asif Tanha. .Tanha has alleged that the police officials leaked his purported disclosure statement, which was recorded during the investigation, to the media. .While stating that the statement had no evidentiary value, Tanha has raised objections against news reports saying that he has confessed to orchestrating the Delhi riots. .Tanha has maintained that the he was forced to sign papers in police custody. .Responding to the allegations, Delhi Police said that none of the police personnel had leaked out any details of the investigation..It was further stated that Delhi Police was also aggrieved by the alleged confessional statement of the petitioner being made public as that has also hampered the investigation. .The Court was also informed that a vigilance inquiry in the matter has been instituted..While appearing for Zee, Advocate Vijay Aggarwal said that as per his instructions, the information was available in public domain. .The Court nonetheless direction Zee Media to file an affidavit and disclose its source. .Respondent no.3 is directed to file an affidavit clearly disclosing the source from where the alleged confessional statement of the petitioner was received, before the next date of hearing..Tanha has been named as an accused in the case concerning the alleged conspiracy that led to the riots in the capital’s North-East area in February 2020..Anti-CAA protests, conspiracy to uproot elected government, chakka-jaam: Dissecting Delhi Police's 2,600+ page chargesheet on Delhi riots.Earlier this year, in a petition moved by co-accused Devangana Kalita, the Court had restrained Delhi Police from issuing statements and communications naming her in relation to the case, till the commencement of trial against her..The Court had then observed that the Delhi riots cases were "undoubtedly sensitive"..The matter would be heard next on October 19. .Advocates Siddharth Aggarwal, Sowjhanya Shankaran appeared for Tanha. .Advocates Vijay Aggarwal, Ashul Agarwal, Barkha Rastogi, Hardik Sharma, Yugant Sharma appeared for Zee. .Read the order: