Madras HC criticises police for releasing photos of accused to media

Chennai: Taking exception to the release of photographs of the accused allegedly involved in Udumalpet honour killing, to the media, the Madras high court on Wednesday pulled up the police for the same.

Taking note of photographs published in some newspapers, a Division Bench comprising Justices M. Jaichandren and S. Nagamuthu called public prosecutor S. Shanmughavelayutham and asked him how photographs of accused were published in the media.

The court said a Division Bench had earlier directed the DGP to issue circulars to all police stations instructing them not to publish photographs of the accused as it will hamper investigation. If photographs of the accused were published, it will affect identification parade and ultimately, trial will also be affected. Therefore, considering the consequences, the DGP was asked to issue circular. Despite this directive, photographs of the accused were published in some newspapers. “We intended to issue contempt notice”, the Bench added.

The public prosecutor said immediately after the occurrence, the entire community joined together and demanded arrest of the accused. The police immediately arrested the accused. Despite police preventing media, they took photographs of the accused, he said.

The court said the photograph found in newspaper prima facie showed it was taken when the accused was in police custody. Shanmughavelayutham said the DGP had given instructions. There were more than thousand police stations. If one or two police officers commit mistake, action will be taken against them. He assured the court that action will be taken against the officer who gave the photo or permitted press to take photographs.

The bench asked the public prosecutor whet her the media was informed about the circular. The prosecutor said a new circular will be issued and copies will be given to the media also.