The Supreme Court of India expressed pain over the media coverage of the Twisha Sharma case, urging restraint and caution in reporting the sensitive matter.
Sharma, a 32-year-old woman from Noida, was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal's Katara Hills, with her family alleging dowry harassment and her in-laws claiming she was a drug addict.
The court called on media to avoid recording statements of the victim's family, stating that it reduces their pain to mere 'sound bytes.'
The top court stepped in after a media report alleged that a fair trial was being denied to Twisha's family, with the accused being a lawyer and his mother a former district judge.
The Solicitor General told the court that it was Sharma's mother-in-law who started giving interviews, accusing Twisha of being a drug addict, which sparked a frenzy in the media.
The court ordered a CBI probe and assured the family of an impartial investigation, while also requesting media to avoid recording statements of potential witnesses.
