Should coverage of videos linked to the Veeramani POCSO case be restrained? Media houses have told the Madras High Court that informed debate on child assault cases can further the cause of justice, contending that they published only publicly available material without exposing victims.
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Chennai: Opposing a plea for an injunction against coverage of videos linked to the Veeramani POCSO case, media houses including Republic TV and India Today have told the Madras High Court that informed public debate on child assault cases can further the cause of justice [Tulir Charitable Trust v. The State].
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan heard the matter on October 6, 2026. The allegations in the underlying case are untested, the Court has expressed no view on the merits, and the accused are presumed innocent. The identities of the victims are protected and are not given here.
Where the hearing ended
Justice Lakshminarayanan noted that the material placed before the Court showed videos carrying images of both the accused and blurred images of victims, which sat uneasily with the media’s contention. The injunction plea was not decided on October 6, and the matter will be heard again on October 7, 2026.
The trust’s plea
The charitable trust wants media outlets restrained from publicising videos said to contain child sexual abuse material. Such coverage, it contended, deters other victims from coming forward and violates victim privacy under Section 23 of the POCSO Act. On September 25, the Court had earlier asked media houses not to publish videos connected with the case.
The media’s reply
Appearing for the media houses, Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani argued that informed debate on child assault cases advances justice and should not be restricted. He submitted:
Judiciary and the press should work in tandem in these kinds of offences.
As to Republic TV, he contended that it had published only publicly available material, had not exposed the identities of victims, and had shown only blurred images of the accused.
Status of the investigation
The Additional Public Prosecutor told the Court that four FIRs have been registered and that three more victims have given complaints. A Special Investigation Team is probing the case, including allegations of official cover-up. These are allegations, they remain untested, and the Court has expressed no view on them.
Why the hearing matters
The hearing sets two interests against each other: the open court principle and public debate on one side, and the statutory protection of victims’ privacy under the POCSO Act and the need to encourage other victims to come forward on the other. The Court’s decision on the injunction will indicate where the line falls when videos linked to a live child abuse case are in circulation.
Case Title: Tulir Charitable Trust v. The State
Bench: Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, Madras High Court
Date of Hearing: October 6, 2026 (next hearing October 7, 2026)
Appearances: Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani for the media houses; the Additional Public Prosecutor for the State
If you or a child you know needs help, CHILDLINE 1098 is the national helpline for children in distress. Report any content depicting child sexual abuse to the police or through the national cybercrime portal, and do not share it.