Aaj Ki Baat report on Hathras rape cited by Allahabad HC, notice issued to UP govt

Amid nationwide outrage over Hathras gang-rape and murder case of a 19-year-old girl, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of the Hathras incident and issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government. The UP government and state police are facing the heat over the incident of alleged gang-rape of a woman and the way her cremation was done by the Hathras administration in the dead of night.

The Allahabad High Court while issuing notice to the UP government — over forcible cremation of the Hathras victim and other issues — cited a report shown in India TV's 'Aaj Ki Baat' programme anchored by Editor-In-Chief and Chairman, Rajat Sharma. The High Court notice mentions, "In this very context we may also refer to an electronic media program shown on India TV channel by the name "Aaj ki Baat" where the anchor Shri Rajat Sharma dwelled on the issue of alleged forcible cremation of the deceased victim at length and in the said program videos which were recorded on the spot at the time the deceased victim's body arrived in the village and her cremation indicating the forcible cremation without the family members being allowed to participate, that too, in the midst of the night contrary to the religious practices followed by the family, have been shown. The family members were shown as stating that cremation is not carried out after sunset and before day break and that the body of the deceased should be taken to their home, but this was not done."