Gang-rape convict’s interview: Police files FIR, government bans broadcast

NEW DELHI: In a late night development, I&B Ministry issued a notice to all television channels not to broadcast the Nirbhaya documentary.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police has registered a first information report regarding a British filmmaker’s documentary featuring an interview with one of the December 16 gang-rape convicts who said women had only themselves to blame if they attracted male molesters. The FIR stated that the content of the documentary is intended to insult the modesty of women and falls under the category of criminal defamation.

The police also moved a local court to halt the telecast of the documentary by the BBC this Sunday on International Women’s Day and its simultaneous broadcast in seven other countries, including by private news channel in India.

The police also moved a local court to halt the telecast of the documentary by the BBC this Sunday on International Women’s Day and its simultaneous broadcast in seven other countries, including by a private news channel in India.

Udwin said she had taken permission from the then Director General of Tihar jail, Vimla Mehra, as well. Home ministry officials admitted that before selling the rights of the documentary to the BBC last year, Udwin had informed the ministry and Tihar jail authorities about it in February 2014 and offered to share the footage with them. It is not clear if the footage was vetted by any government authority.

“This was a ghastly crime and law has been broken. The permission was given to remain in domain of law. We will investigate this case. I urge the media to not air the documentary,” Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said.

Heads are expected to roll as the home ministry has sought explanations from its bureaucrats and Mehra, now a Delhi Police Special Commissioner. Home minister Rajnath Singh is said to have been miffed over the content of the documentary.

Singh spoke to Tihar jail Director General Alok Kumar Verma and sought a detailed report on the matter urgently. Rajnath is expected to make a statement on the issue in Parliament on Wednesday.
The FIR was registered under IPC sections 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) 505(1)(b) (With intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and section 66A of the IT Act (Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service) at the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police.

Asked against whom the FIR has been registered, Bassi said, "We have registered an FIR on the basis of media reports and we will investigate and whosoever would will be found guilty we will take action against them."

Any assertion where the late victim is being maligned or where threat is being issued to women in general transgress the domain of law. We are going to move our court concerned for a restraint order, he added.

Udwin had claimed that she took permission from the then Director General of Tihar jail Vimla Mehra to interview Mukesh in prison for BBC.

Asked about this claims, Bassi said, "I am not aware of any permission. Even if it was given, it was given to remain in the domain of law. If any act transgresses the domain of law and particularly IPC, I am duty bound to take action and we have registered a case."