Rakul Preet moves Delhi HC alleging ‘media trial’, court issues notice

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and Press Council of India (PCI) on the petition filed by Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh seeking to put a stop on the media trial going on against her in connection with the drug probe in Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

The Delhi High Court In its order also said, “It is hoped that media houses would show restraint and abide by the Programme Code and other guidelines, both statutory and self-regulatory while making any report.”

During the hearing senior advocate Aman Hingorani appeared for Rakul Preet Singh and said that the actress got to know during a shoot that Rhea Chakraborty has named her and Sara Ali Khan for taking drugs, and the media started running a campaign against her.

“A media trial has been going on against Rakul ever since her name came up in the Rhea Chakraborty case,” Aman Hingorani said.

It was further pointed out that TV channels purposely showed certain movie clips of Rakul Preet wherein she could be seen smoking and drinking. They even morphed her photo to show her sitting with other persons who were allegedly named by Rhea Chakraborty, he added.

The Centre argued that a blanket pre-censorship order ought not to be passed by the court, especially when there has been no complaint under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act.

The Delhi High court was hearing a petition by Rakul Preet Singh. The actress has requested the High Court to instruct the I&B ministry that there should be no negative media coverage against her.

In her submission before the Delhi HC, Rakul also said that she learnt that she had been named in the case only through TV channels.