NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Wednesday issued an order restraining journalists from reporting the merits of the Unnao rape case.
It also directed media houses not to report the arguments and the deposition of witnesses. This is not the first time that a court restrained the media from reporting a case. In the past, in-camera trials have taken place in many cases, most notably the one related to Nirbhaya.
District Judge Dharmesh Sharma issued the order as a precautionary step as the survivor was a minor in 2017 when the atrocity allegedly took place.
The court is cautious that any reporting on the matter would lead to the identification of the Unnao woman. Reporting the merits and deposition of witnesses may also lead to some of them changing their statements under media pressure.
The survivor and her lawyer have been shifted to AIIMS upon the directions of the Supreme Court.
After the apex court ordered the transfer of all five cases related to Unnao rape incident from Uttar Pradesh to the national capital, the court is hearing these cases in which expelled BJP legislator Kuldeep Sengar is the main accused.