Madras High Court bars media from discussing factual matrix of POCSO case

…channels, including India Today, Republic TV and Sathiyam TV. Taking serious note of the sensitive nature of the investigation, the judge, during the course of hearing, told the counsel for a television channel that “ there are things more important in life than TRP ratings (a key metric used to measure the popularity of television programmes).” State Public Prosecutor (SPP) R. John Sathyan told the court the police had decided to register a separate First Information Report (FIR) with…

…to the case, to the media, and that efforts were on to track down the culprits. Asserting the leak had not taken place from the police department, he said a particular individual had been named widely on social media. “ We are investigating it too. If found true, we will certainly take action. We are on it ,” Mr. Sathyan assured the court. Justice Lakshminarayanan said there could be more victims of the sexual offence, and they may not gain the confidence to come out and confide with the police if videos of other victims…

…TVK) as well as leaders of Opposition parties having rubbed shoulders with the prime accused, the petitioner said that those images were being used to portray that the politicians were hand in glove with the accused. “ It is submitted that the press and media, across all formats, are utilising the said images in order to prejudice the minds of the general public ,” he said and urged the court to order a probe either by the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT), as the issue was being “sensationalised and politicised.” The petitioner also sought a direction to the press and…

…police, and television channels India Today, Republic TV, Sathyam TV, and others to identify, remove and disable access to the Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM). The petitioner organisation said: “ The circulation of such material outside the investigative process raises serious concerns regarding the custody and confidentiality of highly sensitive evidence and poses an immediate and continuing threat to the privacy, dignity, and safety of the victims. ” Published - September 25, 2026 12:03 pm IST…