HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: The NIA special court in Hyderabad has gagged the media from reporting on investigations and interrogation details of Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar in connection with the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case.

The court directed the print and electronic media not to publish any proceedings of the case without its prior permission.

Earlier this week the NIA had filed a petition with the First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge in Nampally, which also serves as special court for NIA, arguing that the details of investigations against Bhatkal and Akhtar being published in the media was not only causing damage to the probe but also endangering the lives of witnesses and could lead to destruction of evidence by absconding accused.

In its order, the court said, "...it is just and necessary to give directions to print and electronic media not to publish any of the proceedings in this case in RC No. 1/2013 (Hyderabad blasts case) and RC 2/2013 of National Investigation Agency, Hyderabad including the publishing and telecasting in any manner touching the documents of ongoing investigation of this case without prior permission from this court."

Passing the directions, the court said that given the day-to-day reportage of investigation, "there is every possibility of the absconding accused causing disappearance of the evidence in order to defeat the purpose of investigation and there is also likelihood of danger to the lives of the witnesses from the hands of the absconding accused".

NIA sources said if any newspaper or broadcast media is found to be relaying sensitive information through their reportage, they would be hauled to courts on the request of the agency. "We had to request the court for this as we are still in the process of gathering material evidence based on interrogation of the accused, and information revealed by the media is hampering this process," said a senior NIA officer.

Bhatkal and Akhtar are involved in a series of attacks across the country since 2006.