The Supreme Court Monday refused to restrain media from reporting on the alleged sexual assault case against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu,who claimed sensational reporting sullied his image and prejudiced his case. After hearing the argument of the senior counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as the publication and news coverage which are enclosed with the present writ petition as well as the ratio laid down in various decisions,we are of the view that for the present there is no need to entertain the writ petition, said a Bench of Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The court observed that no such directions could be given to the media from reporting on the case at this juncture. However,it also gave a liberty to Asaram to move the court again if media organisations did not follow its 2012 guidelines,which laid down postponement of publication on a sub judice matter on a plea by an aggrieved person. We hope and trust that the media,both print and electronic,would follow those guidelines. With the above observation,the writ petition is disposed of. Petitioner is free to approach this court if the ratio laid down by this court is not adhered to by the reporting agencies, said the court. Senior advocate Vikas Singh,who was appearing for Asaram,submitted that the media has already declared him as rapist even though the victim has leveled charges of molestation only. He pointed out that some Hindi news TV channels and vernacular newspapers had shown the statement made by the victim before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code,which was not available for the accused.
