TOI article on telecast of Delhi Case

Television channel Sony has been restrained from airing episodes of 'Crime Patrol- Dastak', which are based on the Delhi gangrape incident, by the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) which has held that such telecast was inappropriate when the trial is on.

Sources said that in a meeting held today evening in Mumbai, the BCCC coveyed its decision to the channel while a written order may be sent in the coming days.

BCCC chairperson Justice (retd) A P Shah, and members including National Commission for Minorities chairperson Wajahat Habibullah, actor Shabana Azmi, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights member Dipa Dixit, journalist Vir Sanghvi and representatives of Broadcasters were learnt to be present.

The BCCC functionaries are learnt to have watched both the episodes along with the representatives of the channel Sony who spoke in favour of allowing the screening of the two episodes.

After watching the episodes and considering all aspects, the BCCC has conveyed to the channel that it would be best that the episodes are not telecast till the time a judgement is not delivered in the case, a source said. The trial in the Delhi gangrape case, where a 23 year old girl was assaulted in a moving bus, is presently underway in a sessions court in Saket.

Earlier the matter related to the telecast of the two episodes were referred by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High court to the BCCC, which is the self regulatory body set up by the broadcasting industry.

Following telecast of certain promos of the programmes by the channel, an organisation named Bhartiya Stree Shakti had moved the court with a petition to stop the telecast.

Sources said that the BCCC would convey its decision to the High court also.