‘Stop Talking About Gauri!’: SIT Aims To Gag Public Discourse On Murder Case

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been making several arrests in the past few weeks in relation to the murder of Karnataka journalist Gauri Lankesh. The team is now moving the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) court to invoke certain specific clauses of the Act that allows prevention of dissemination of any material, information and news relating to the crime committed.

This is in lieu with any imminent security threats against the witnesses that might possibly collude the smooth progress of the case, and hence a gag order is deemed necessary.

Should the court sanction the provision, any violators will have to shell out Rs 1,000 and even face prison up to a year.

According to Section 20 of the Act, the SIT can avail the provision of maintaining discretion about the proceedings, names and details pertaining to the case.

Many legal experts have protested against this move, and say that the media only keeps the investigation in check, to ensure that any flaws are pointed out, so that corrective measures can be adopted.

These provisions have been witnessed in the case of Mohammed Haris Nalapad, Shantinagar MLA NA Haris’ son, who was involved in the pub brawl case at Farzi Cafe in Bengaluru.

The SIT has arrested 13 men so far, in connection with the Gauri Lankesh case.