Reality show judge in Shinjini case defends himself

Bangalore, July 1 (IANS) A judge of the reality TV show on which Kolkata teenager Shinjini Sengupta was reportedly rebuked, leading to her breakdown, Tuesday defended himself and the others on the panel.

'We did not pull up anybody. We only advise, assess and judge the participants,' the judge, Ringoo, told reporters outside the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-sciences (NIMHANS) here where the 16-year-old Shinjini is being treated.

Ringoo and Kaustub Ray, one of the producers of the show, visited the hospital to meet Shinjini and her parents.

Ringoo claimed that Shinjini's father had told them that he was sorry about the controversy and did not blame the producers or the judges for his daughter's plight.

'It is not an apology. But he said he was sorry and did not want any controversy and only wanted his daughter to get better,' Ringoo said when asked whether the father had apologised to them.

Ringoo claimed that the episode in which Shinjini was said to have been rebuked has not been aired.

Meanwhile, doctors at NIMHANS said Shinjini was responding to treatment and has been able to recognise her parents.