The Hindu : Front Page : Ban on publishing transcripts in blasts case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 18, 2007
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Front Page

Ban on publishing transcripts in blasts case

Staff Reporter

MUMBAI: A day after television media aired tapes of narco-analysis conducted on the extradited gangster Abu Salem, prosecution in the serial July blasts case sought the court’s intervention to prohibit them from doing the same in the case of any of the 13 accused. The court upheld the application and barred the media from printing or telecasting any transcripts or audio visual material relating to the case.

Prosecutor Raja Thakre submitted the application which said “the telecast of Abu Salem’s narco-analysis leads to disclosure of names and other details of witnesses. If such an eventuality occurs in this case, it may have adverse repercussions either on the prosecution case or even prejudging the accused.”

Information collected through narco-analysis is not admissible in a court of law and is used only to aid the investigation.

The tests are conducted by administering certain drugs and making the person semiconscious.

Several activists have opposed the use of this test on accused and suspects.

Transcripts of Salem’s narco-analysis allegedly reveal the links of prominent film personalities, filmmakers and police personnel with Mumbai’s underworld. Salem also expressed the fear of being killed by Dawood Ibrahim and other gangsters. Earlier, tapes of the narco-analysis test on Abdul Karim Telgi, the main accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, were shown on a news channel.

Special Judge Mrudula Bhatkar upheld the submissions and directed that no audio, video recording or clipping or transcript related to any accused should be telecast.

She said the right to privacy is important.

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