Kolkata rape and murder case: Kapil Sibal wants to stop live telecast of trial; SC denies ‘it is in public interest’

The Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing the ex officio case of rape and murder of a medical doctoral student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. During the proceedings, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, had sought a stay on live telecast of the case, but his plea was rejected by the Supreme Court. The top court said it would not stay the live telecast of the proceedings in the Kolkata rape and murder case as it was in public interest.

Sibal said lawyers in his chambers have been receiving threats on social media, and people on the ground have also been posting comments. Sibal said women in the chambers have been receiving threats and being told they will be attacked with acid and raped. “We are receiving threats that he will be attacked with acid, women lawyers will be raped.”

The Supreme Court assured him that the Supreme Court would intervene if any threats were made against lawyers and other persons.

The case will be heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), drew the Supreme Court’s attention to the fact that Wikipedia still displays both the name and photograph of the victim implicated in the case. In response, the Supreme Court informed him that it would issue an order directing Wikipedia to remove the same.