R K Anand Tries to Come out from BMW Sting Net

New Delhi (ABC Live): Supreme Court of India on Tuesday showed concern over increasing trend of conduct sting operations by Indian media.

In a case filed by infamous Senior Advocate R K Anand through his counsel Aftab Ahmed about a sting operation by a new channel on him which showed him and public prosecutor I U Khan offering money to main witness to change his statement in favor of Anand’s client, the main accused in BMW hit and run case, Sanjeev Nanda.

While expressing his observation during hearing of the case by three three-member bench comprising Justices B N Aggrawal, Justice Aftab Alam and Justice G S Singhvi one of these justice Singhvi said he felt that the media sting virtually convicted individuals in the eyes of the public even before they were brought to actual judicial trial and also infringe right and liberty of an individual.

If we will not think upon these ongoing media sting "Tomorrow you could be there. It could be one of us (judges) also," said Justice G S Singhvi. Further Learned Justice has also observed, "In your case (Anand) public conviction was already there."

It is to mention that on May 31 last year Delhi High Court had taken suo motu cognizance of a private news channel’s sting operation showing Anand, in collusion with Khan offering money to a main witness in BMW hit and run case and has debarred the duo from appearing in high court and lower courts for four months in September 2008.

It has recommended that they be stripped of their designation of senior advocate. Now with his petition in Supreme Court of India Anand has tried to take sympathy of all those who thrill if their truth come in front of public on one day by these media strings and ask banning them in the name of individual’s right and liberty.

My Views:

I was shocked by SC justice Singhvi remark on Anand's sting operation that media exposure through sting had made public presumption against him.

On this I want to ask question from our legal fraternity that, Is Indian Judiciary do justice looking into public presumption before any decision? if yes than these media sting may infringe in justice delivery system of India and not than it may help investigating agencies like supporting clues as they get by Narco test, lie detection tests etc.

Just afraid from these because some day it might be their turn, I think is not appropriate observation from learned judge keeping in mind the role played by senior advocates in question in the interest of free, fair and fast justice concept.

Last not the least the I request my journalists fraternity over usage of media sting operation, it should be avoided and used as last not first option as journalists' tools.