The New Indian Express Reporter Assaulted and Robbed in ACMM Court Complex

Rakshith Gowda TT, a 23-year-old TNIE reporter, was brutally attacked and robbed inside the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court complex on Nrupathunga Road. At about 5.30 pm on Saturday, this happened. The incident has created immense concern about the safety of reporters while covering high-profile legal cases.

NewsTapOne.com has accessed the FIR copy registered in this attack. Rakshith was reporting on the trial of Renuka Swamy murder case. This is a widely publicized case because popular Kannada movie actor Darshan is the second accused in this case.

As per the FIR, Rakshith was waiting outside the court hall on the second floor when four unidentified men in formal white shirts reached there and approached him. They enquired about his identity, and as he revealed that he is a reporter, they assaulted him and dragged him for almost 50 meters. The accused used abusive language against him and threatened not to roam inside the court complex, it said.

Though police were present at the spot for the hearing of Darshan’s case, no protection was provided to Rakshith when he came under attack. Bleeding and injured, he managed to reach the Halasuru Gate police station and lodged a complaint of attack.

HT Shekhar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (central), immediately responded to the situation. After Darshan’s court hearing, some advocates handed over phones that belonged to reporters. These phones were snatched by unidentified men. The police are examining CCTV footage from the court to identify the attackers. Calls for improved security for reporters have resonated with loud criticism of the attack.

Attackers are yet to be identified.