'Trial Is Going On, Look At How It Is Being Recreated': Karnataka High Court Flags Sensational Media Coverage Of Renukaswamy Murder Case

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (April 09) reserved its verdict on Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa's plea, against his 'brazen media trial' in connection with the Renukaswamy Murder case.Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum also orally disapproved of the conduct of media channels and opined that it interferes with the administration of justice, since the trial is ongoing.“A trial is going on...Look at the way they (media channels) are recreating it”, the judge remarked.Darshan is accused of being involved in the killing of his 33-year-old 'fan' over sending obscene messages to actress Pavithra Gowda. He is aggrieved by alleged inaction on part of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) as well as the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) to restrain the 'defamatory content' against him.Advocate Pratham N appearing for the actor submitted that media is conducting prolonged, daily panel discussions, involving even retired police officers and senior advocates, to build their own narrative of the probe against him.“…One of the victim's relatives went hostile during the trial. There was a 4-hour dissection of such a proceeding in the trial on media channels...”, he submitted.Appearing for the Centre on the other hand, ASG Arvind Kamath submitted that the concerned Ministry has already communicated to the media channels regarding the restriction on publishing, printing, and airing any confidential information in relation to CR No 250/2024 (Darshan's FIR). Further, if the Court opines that any acts of the media interfere with the administration of justice, then the court may pass necessary directions which the State would abide by.“…The Hon'ble court may direct us to inform YouTube and Meta to take down this content, and if they don't, they will lose protection under S 79(3) of IT Act...”, ASG clarified.ASG added that nothing prevents Darshan from initiating contempt against the erring media channels. “For television channels, we have the Cable Television Networks Act. It's a very strong remedy that my friend is not using…There is a three-tier mechanism- a complaint is first filed before the respective channel for violation. Secondly, a self-regulatory body is there at the next tier; then an inter-departmental committee is there, he has not utilised any of these statutorily recognised mechanisms”, ASG added.After hearing the submissions, the court has reserved the matter for pronouncing orders.Yesterday, the High Court orally criticised the express violation of judicial orders against sensational media coverage, pointing towards reconstruction of court proceedings and dissection of merits in the pending criminal proceedings by the TV Channels.Case Title: Mr. Darshan Srinivas v. Union of India & Anr.Case No: WP No.7473 /2026

'Trial Is Going On, Look At How It Is Being Recreated': Karnataka High Court Flags Sensational Media Coverage Of Renukaswamy Murder Case

Sebin James

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