Delhi gangrape convict wants documentary maker prosecuted

New Delhi: One of the four convicts, facing death penalty in December 16 gang-rape and murder case, today moved the Delhi high court seeking CBI inquiry and prosecution of the controversial BBC documentary maker.

The plea, which was mentioned before a bench of Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, stated that the broadcast of the interview of convict Mukesh, allegedly taken inside Tihar jail here in July 2013, should not be allowed.

To this, the court said it did not find any urgency in the matter and directed that it be listed in normal course.

The plea came on a day when a different bench of the High Court declined an interim prayer of a law student seeking lifting of the ban on telecasting the controversial BBC documentary carrying the convict's interview.

Advocate M L Sharma, appearing for Mukesh before another high court bench, said the trial court's March 4 ban order was "equally binding" upon the documentary 'India's Daughter' director Leslee Udwin, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), a private news channel and all others concerned.

"Bare reading of the prohibition order (trial court), it is not limited only for India. Order is binding in rem and the respondents who are partners in the said procurement of the film, are duty bound to comply (with) it and cannot release it out of India.

"Releasing the said film under different title, namely 'Indian daughter' upon their channel ... And youtube.Com cannot be allowed in any manner and it is illegal offence and is also a serious case of violation of the court order," the counsel said.

He also sought direction that any part of the documentary should not be used in any legal or judicial proceedings in any manner.