Aarushi murder case: CBI submits status report to SC

The CBI today submitted to the Supreme Court a status report on the probe into the sensational twin murder of teenaged school student Aarushi Talwar and her domestic servant Hemraj in neighbouring Noida.

The report submitted in a sealed cover would come up for scrutiny before a bench of justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph on December 12 which had asked CBI to furnish it with the progress report in the case.

CBI, in a separate affidavit, said it agreed certain restraints should be put on the media from damaging the reputation of individuals in pending criminal matters but at the same time said investigating agencies should share vital information with the press in public interest.

However, it said departmental action in the form of both civil and criminal prosecution should be taken against those police officers who leak unauthorised news to the media that causes damage to the reputation of the persons concerned.

The CBI's affidavit is in response to the apex court's direction seeking the agency's views on a PIL filed by advocate Dr Surat Singh who sought suitable guidelines and restrictions on the media from publishing or broacasting news relating to pending criminal matter, which he claimed tarnished the reputation of various individuals.

Aarushi, daughter of a dentist couple, and her domestic help Hemraj were found murdered at their Noida house on May 16, 2008.