Katju asks ex-CJI to probe allegations against Khurshid, India Today group

New Delhi: Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Monday urged former Chief Justice of India and National Broadcasting Standard Association (NBSA) chief Justice JS Verma to probe allegations against Law Minister Salman Khurshid as also against India Today group and come out with its report.

In a letter to Verma, Katju said, "I would request you to hold an enquiry into the matter thoroughly and make your findings public so that whoever is innocent is exonerated and whoever is guilty is exposed." Katju also observed that the broadcast media often does not do proper investigation for their stories.

"This incident is not just an isolated one, because often complaints are made that in their hurry to give breaking news, the media, specially the broadcast media, does not do proper investigation before attacking someone's reputation," he said.

The PCI chairman asked NBSA chief Justice JS Verma to probe the allegations and come out with its report.

This comes a day after Khurshid had on Sunday refuted all allegations against him and his wife Louise about misappropriation of funds by a trust run by them. In the letter, Katju also said that the matter be examined by a person of high stature and everyone holds Justice Verma in "very high respect".

"Some lawyers met me today at my residence and suggested that since there are counter versions from both sides, it would be appropriate if the matter could be examined by some person of high stature," he said. Katju also quoted from the Gita and said, "In this connection, I may refer to Chapter two Shloka 34...where Lord Krishna said to Arjun (that) for a self-respecting man, death is preferable to dishonour."

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