‘We will wait till probe is complete’

Television channel Star Plus on Tuesday assured the government that an episode of its popular series

Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki,

inspired by the Aarushi murder case, would not be telecast till the investigations are over.

Information & Broadcasting minister PR Dasmunsi spoke to Star Plus officials after the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) sought his intervention on the issue. The commission also issued a notice to Balaji Telefilms asking it to first seek permission from Aarushi’s parents to telecast the episode.

Dasmunsi told reporters the channel’s officials have assured him the controversial episode will not be shown till the investigations are completed in the twin murder case involving Aarushi and the family’s domestic help Hemraj.

"It is not government policy to interfere in intellectual rights of television channels. But considering NCPCR’s intervention and legalities involved in Aarushi case, I spoke with Star Plus officials," the minister explained.

NCPCR member Sandhaya Bajaj said the government’s intervention has helped in protecting the rights of a deceased child and will ensure investigations in the case are not effected. Aarushi’s mother Nupur Talwar had made an appeal to the commission on Monday asking it to stop Balaji Telefilms from telecasting an episode inspired from Aarushi murder case.

The NCPCR on Tuesday also warned Balaji Telefilms of stern action if it was found to have committed any act amounting to violation or infringement of rights of the deceased child for the purpose of commercial gain.

The commission said telecasting an episode inspired from the Noida twin murders might violate the rights of the murder victim after her death.

Meanwhile, the I&B ministry had issued show case notice to a television news channel India News for showing an MMS of Aarushi and has sought its footage. Senior ministry officials said the footage would be examined by an inter-ministerial committee to decide whether any action should be taken against the channel or not for violation of the programme code. The notice was issued on basis of a complaint received by the ministry.