Hyderabad: The Telangana high court on Thursday directed social media platforms and television channels not to telecast content relating to a POCSO case against MoS Bandi Sanjay’s son, Bandi Sai Bageerath, and issued notices to the state and central govts.Justice EV Venugopal passed the directions while hearing a petition filed by Bageerath and adjourned the matter for four weeks for the filing of counters.The judge restrained Google LLC, Meta Platforms Inc, X Corp, along with all other unknown individuals and channels, from disseminating any content related to the case.Further, regarding any similar offending material, the court said the intermediaries concerned are required to immediately remove, block or disable access to the content.The court also granted the petitioner liberty to approach it again should any disputes or ambiguities arise regarding the nature of the flagged material.Senior counsel Avinash Desai, appearing for Bageerath, contended that despite the petitioner securing regular bail, the case was being continuously telecast and discussed on social media, causing damage to his reputation and that of his father, Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar.“Private family functions of the petitioner were also being linked to the case and telecast,” the counsel contended.The counsel further alleged a sustained media trial, including allegations against the judge and advocates involved in the bail proceedings.The respondent authorities and social media platforms sought time to file their counters, following which the court adjourned the hearing.
