Govt issues notice to Live India

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought response from the Centre on what action it is "contemplating" to take against the TV channel which had telecast alleged fake sting operation involving a lady school teacher of Delhi.

"What action the government is contemplating against the channel," a division bench comprising Chief Justice M K Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said.

Not satisfied by the Centre's contention that the show cause notice has been issued against the channel, the Bench observed: "Under which provision of the law, you have issued show cause notice. If offence is committed, you have to register a case and start criminal proceeding".

The Centre today informed the court that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, yesterday, had issued the show cause notice to the channel, Live India directing it to respond within three days that why action should not be taken against it.

The High Court, on September seven, had issued notices to the city government and police after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports that the sting operation was fake and distorted.

The police had arrested TV channel reporter Prakash Singh on September seven after booking him under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including those relating to cheating and criminal conspiracy.

Singh, a reporter of Live India channel that aired the sting operation on August 30, was arrested after it reportedly turned out that the girl who appeared in it making allegations against the school teacher was not a student but an aspiring journalist.