CB refutes OTV charges

BHUBANESWAR:The summoning of the journalists of OTV by Crime Branch (CB) over the leak of a forensic report of the alleged Kunduli gang-rape victim has turned into a controversy after the popular private Odia news channel claimed that it was an attempt to muzzle the freedom of press.

While OTV alleged that three of its journalists were asked to reveal the source of the forensic report, the CB on Sunday clarified that there was no attempt whatsoever to undermine the freedom of press as it is being made out to be.

In a press release issued here, Additional Director General of Police, CID-CB, Santosh Upadhyay said the case pertained to investigation of unauthorised and illegal leakage of documents from the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) and added basing on such illegally obtained documents, the SFSL was falsely and mischievously projected in bad light.

While OTV said its journalists were grilled for hours and repeatedly asked to reveal the source of the story which had brought to public domain a forensic lab report contradicting the Government stand that the minor was not raped at all, the probe agency said since the exhibits were received through a judicial court, unauthorised leak was a criminal act which required to be investigated into.

However, the private news channel said in a press release that authenticity of the report was never challenged either by SFSL or CB but both the agencies are conducting an investigation into how the report got leaked. Summoning of the reporters and compelling them to reveal the source of the report is a brazen attempt to harass and intimidate OTV, it added.

The CID-CB chief said the agency as well as Odisha Police have utmost respect for media and its important role in the democratic set up and added there is no question of forcing anyone to reveal any information unwillingly.

The entire examination was conducted in presence of a lawyer of OTV and with due courtesies were extended to the journalists.It is pertinent to mention that the Central Forensic Laboratory, Kolkata examined the exhibits and later vindicated the stand taken by SFSL that the victim was not raped.