Underlining the question of “security” of a man accused of forceful conversion and rape, the Delhi High Court has ordered Sudarshan News, social media platforms and government authorities to take down content terming him “jihadi”, Bar and Bench reported.
The man’s lawyer told the court that the channel’s reporters were harassing the accused and his family and even Aaj Tak has held a debate on the issue, according to the report.
A 42-year-old Sikh woman in Delhi has accused a 32-year-old Muslim man of trying to convert her while they were in a relationship. She has alleged that he recorded her video while they were intimate, threatened her, and tried to forcibly convert her.
Azmat Ali Khan, who was granted anticipatory bail in that FIR, moved the Delhi High Court stating that the woman with whom he was in a relationship for nearly seven years alleged that he tried to convert her.
Hearing the case on Friday, Justice Prathiba M Singh expressed displeasure over a Sudarshan News report using words such as “jihadi” when the matter was being probed by the Delhi Police. She took note of the threatening remarks posted under a video uploaded by the channel and stated that it posed a danger to Khan’s safety. One such video was played in the court.
“Considering that there is a severe threat as is evident from the comments, it is directed that the links which have been set out shall be immediately blocked for public viewing…it is a question of his security..my directions are clear. It (the video) has to be blocked by everybody,” the court said, according to Bar and Bench.
While the NBDA said Sudarshan News is not its member, the Press Council of India said it can’t act against videos on digital platforms.
The court asked the Delhi Police to inform the complainant of the proceedings. It will hear the matter again on May 23.
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