A city civil court in Bengaluru on Wednesday restrained, by way of temporary ex-party injunction, several media platforms, including print, electronic, digital, television, and social media, from publishing or telecasting any defamatory statements/ allegations against Kannada actor Harshavardini Ranya Rao, who is under arrest in a gold smuggling case.
The 40th additional city civil and sessions judge passed the interim order on a suit filed by Rohini H.P., mother of Ms. Ranya.
It was contended on behalf of Ms. Rohini that under the guise of fair journalism, media platforms have used misleading headlines and exaggerated narratives to create a false perception, which harms the personal integrity of the daughter of the plaintiff. Instead of adhering to journalistic ethics, they have misused their platforms and are engaged in an unethical media trial, it was argued.
“The copies of the news articles placed on record, show that the defendants (media platforms) are telecasting/ publishing news about the ongoing investigation and are holding media trials which is an utter disregard to the guidelines issued by the High Courts and the Supreme Court, and are interfering with the administration of justice. Hence, in order to avoid the press/ media from holding media trials, it is considered just and necessary to meet the apprehension raised by the plaintiff, to issue an order of temporary injunction,” the court observed in its order.
If a temporary injunction is not granted, the right of fair trial to the accused enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution will be violated, the court noted.
Published – March 12, 2025 11:20 pm IST
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