In a fresh order, the Supreme Court today restrained the media from sensational or scandalous reporting of Aarushi murder case even as parents of the girl accused CBI of changing the course of investigation and purported leaks "damaging" their reputation.
A Bench of justices Altamas Kabir and AK Patnaik, while reiterating its July 23, 2008, restraint order on the media, also, asked CBI to explain whether the reports in the media were based on the "leaks" by the investigating agency or were just "imaginary reports."
The apex court also issued notices to the Mail Today and Pioneer newspapers on the application of Aarushi's dentist-parents Rajesh and Nupur Talwar criticising their recent articles purportedly inferring the couples' involvement in the murder of their daughter and domestic help Hemraj.
On July 23, on a PIL filed by an advocate Surat Singh, the apex court had restrained the media from resorting to any sensational or scandalous reporting of the case.
Aarushi, the 14-year-old daughter of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, was found dead with her throat slit in her parents' home at Jalvayu Vihar in Noida on May 16, 2008.
Hemraj was also found murdered in the same house the next day.
The apex court said "nobody wants to gag the press. But someone can gag on irresponsible press and media reporting. The press is very important. There has to be self-regulation. If it fails, what to do?