The Role of Mass Media in Investigation, Focusing on Sushant Singh Rajput’s Suicide Case

I. Introduction

“I would rather have completely free press, with all the dangers involved in the wrong use of that freedom than a suppressed or regulated press.”- Jawaharlal Nehru

The countries freedom can be determined by the freedom that the government bestow on their mass media agencies. The media play an important role in every aspect being the only medium for the public to analyse the events happening in their surroundings. There were many instances where media have been criticised for the exaggerated reports they presented but similarly there are instances where media played important role in seeking justice for the victims. The expansion of the media platforms have also expanded the sources and that led people to know every cornerstone of the event. The one-sidednessreport of the event is replaced by the medium of discussion and the issues are discussed from every aspects including assumptions and reality. Now, the public is more aware and does not easily trust the source unless it is presented with the evidence.

II. Role of the mass media

The Indian Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). The concept of democracy cannot sustain if there is no freedom given to the press. The democracy stands on the three sticks where the government is for the people, by the people and of the people. The media plays a very pivotal role in the democracy and the democracy and freedom goes hand in hand. The role of the media has created the transparency and question the accountability of the government. It has kept the checks and balances on the government works and policies and worked as a conveyor to the public at large.

The media has raised voice for the public and the common people and it has become the source that a general public can reach out the appropriate authority in case they are being victimised. The expansion in the medias platforms have reduced the gap between the authorities and the public. Social media have become such platform where people can directly raise their issue to utmost superior authority so that their issues can be dealt with accuracy and without any fabrication.

The developed technology have developed the various platform, making easy access to the masses at large. Before, due to lack of resources very few people were aware of the current happening. But now even an illiterate have access to cell phone and data network where he receive all sorts of reports about the happening of the current event. The easy access to the media have built a source making an ignorant aware and capable of forming a judgement.The needof an hour is that media have to act responsibly as the masses built their perspective according to the repot that media present. The expanding platform have also expanded the sources, it has become very easy for the public now to get aware of the happening of the events on the daily basis and keep them updated.

Though the press media have been blamed for being government centric at many instances which they have proved wrong by time and then. They have been challenged for their dependencies but they have proved that the media have acted all alone without any bondage, independently. There are cases where media have presented the facts before the public and that outraged the public for seeking the justice. The media have sought justice to the victims and the have presented the failure of authorities and the fabrication with the documents done by the authority in high profile cases. Though the media is blamed for the exaggerated reports but in various cases they have played an immensely important role and made all through their hardship for the justice to prevail.

Taking example of the present mishappenings, the one of the most overwhelming and mourning day was when a brilliant actor and an eminent person, Sushant Singh Rajputcommitted suicide² for the personal reasons. The case is the most run case by the media today where the media is mentioning about the unknown facts from the time of investing the suicide scene and all the factual and documentary evidence which accordingly were tried to be fabricated. The reports of the media on the flaws regarding the action of the Mumbai police and the efforts of Bihar police have created an ambiguity. Though the final decision is always binding on the court, but here media have open the room for the interpretation and chances of involvement of known personalities.

The society is aware about the unjust that a general public go through. The elite brats have committed wrong and their powerful positions have never let them come under lime light and hence, an innocent have suffered the consequences of the wrong done by the corrupt personalities. There are various instances where the judiciary itself have been bribed and have passed the biased decree. The question here is does there is no room for justice to the innocents who are not backed by the powerful positions or have limited sources. The media have criticised as well as supported the government when the time required.

There were various points that were raised by the media which were not only substantial question of the law but also the flaws that can be made and fabricated in the reasonable procedures. The mode of media is now not only restricted to the press or newspaper, the social media have expanded and is available to every person. The question raised were very much relevant and the legal authority who have absolute authority failed to investigate and look the matter in that aspects. The ambiguity raised challenged the veracity of officials’ integrity and their biasness towards the culprits.

Though everything is just based on mere assumptions but sounds more relevant than the report that Mumbai police presented. The death was declared as suicide without proper investigation, raises the question on the police authority. These are the relevant facts which media presented before the nation and stood against the corrupt personalities.

There are numerous cases where the media interference had seek justice to the victims which was nearly impossible due to involvement of the high officials. The famous case of Manu Sharma vs. State³, where an innocent girl Jessica Lalwas murder by the son of the high official was the direct culprit. All possible steps were taken to protect him but the truth was bought before the public by the media trial. The responsible action of the media gathered the praise and the public built immense trust on the media than the legal officials.

In cases of Santosh Kumar Sinha vs. State⁴, where the brilliant girl of Jammu who studied in Delhi University was the victim of molestation and harassment by the son of the official in the police force. She was murdered by him in her flat. The various evidence was against the Santosh Kumar and the complete efforts were made to fabricate the facts but through the media trial the justice was served and accused was put behind the bars.

There are many such cases, Aarushi Murder case, Bijal Joshi rape case and the responsible action of media have led people built their faith in the justice system. The media have educated people and save them from being the victims. Though there are diverse opinion but the diversity have enlarged the scope of interpretation and awareness among the masses.

III. Repercussions of Exaggerated Reports of Media

“If it were left on me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a movement to prefer the latter.” – Thomas Jefferson. There is no doubt that the press is powerful medium of mass communication and play a vital role to build a viable society. The objective behind freedom of press is to make aware the ignorant about their surroundings. But how far these statements should be consideredin modern media era when there is infinite medium for mass communication and what is the source to rely on very veracity of such report.

The present scenario is that media has become a complete business show. It runs the news not for the ignorant citizens but for the profitable business. There are numerous examples which can be quoted here just to prove that these exaggerated media reports have not only led to chaos but also build the distrust among citizen for its own government.

Since past few years India is fighting battle with its own citizens right from the KanahiaLal case to CAA and NRC all these led to muddle the public order and morality. These all cases are just the reason of exaggerated media reports and they are not ready to take up the blame.

At present not only India but whole world is fighting battle against COVID-19. There is lockdown situations in most of the countries. The only medium people are relying on is news channels, social medias, newspapers. But is this media acting responsibly? The answer is no, it is still interviewing and making reports which is raising questions among citizens whether the government is working efficiently or not. The way the report is presented is creating fear among citizens.

Is this a responsible behaviour of our media? Though the freedom is guaranteed to press under Article 19(1) (a) of Indian constitution but it is also backed by reasonable restrictions. But what is the reason that no action is taken against channels telecasting such reports, social media announcing and trending exaggerated version of originality. The only reason one can come through is that these resources are backed by the support of people in power, which can be clearly seeing by watching debates and listening to various reports. There is no more concept of neutrality in media.

The freedom bestowed under Article 19(1) is not absolute. It is countered with reasonable restrictions which is there under Article 19(2) to (6). Though subjected to restrictions media have taken undue advantage of its freedom. The present media moreover passes a judgements rather than sticking on its duty of being an informer. Their judgements have affected the various lives.

The death of Sushant have unleashed the truth of the elite personalities, their bullying behaviour and non- acceptance to an outsider. But was media not responsible faking the news regarding Sushant’scharacter. The bias and bribed media who fancifully passes the judgement regarding a person without any prove on the rumours and gossips is also responsible for his death. The media affects the person mentally and physically as they are responsible to create judgemental masses.

The social media is an open platform. The vulgarity and abusive nature of that medium is available to every single individual and masses actively take part without knowing the veracity of the incident. Now, in Sushant case though being a greater loss, but social media have blamed the known faces and marking nepotism as the root cause. The amount of abuse and threats the people receive, mentally affect the individual. The loss of rationality and the informer being the judgement giver have caused the immense chaos.

The nexus between the media and the official have always witnessed the tussle. The media being an independent agencies fights for acquiring the powerful position in the society and is always suppressed by the officials. The only concern is that media should act responsibly be it social media, press or the newspapers magazines because the whole society depend upon the reports that media present.

There are cases where the media was charged for the contempt of court for releasing the relevant documents in public. In case of in re P.C. Sen⁵, All India Radio Station was charged with contempt of court as they were creating huddle in the court proceeding and released publically the confidential facts regarding the accused.

The major concern is not media the concern is ignorant citizens, which is larger in number and majority rely on these biased sources. It is need of an hour to find solution for this prima facie problem because in majority of cases these exaggerated sources are only the problem creator.

IV. Conclusion

The media have played an important role in educating and developing the people. From the conservative society to the open-mindedness one, the role of media have been immensely important. Through the medium of the media people have seeked justice and gain confident to fight against the high officials, elite classes who have unlimited resources and is powerful in all senses. The nirbhaya case, was presented before the public and every relevant facts was states by the media which made masses aware and stringent laws against the rape was enforced. The Sushant Singh so- called suicide case, where media have presented the ambiguity between the officials of two different states making people aware of the situation.

Therefore, the large masses trust on the source that media provides and media becomes duty bound to act responsibly without any fabrication. The exaggerated version of media should be denied by the public as well as the media itself. The case should be presented verbatim without any fabrication so that truth does not shatter.

*****