The problem is often implicit political sanction to drag "undesirables" through the tortous criminal justice system even when charges don't add up. Such incentives embolden police to often leak wild theories. Until she secured bail, actor was constantly vilified by news channels citing unnamed sources in central investigating agencies. Isro scientist Nambi Narayanan was another victim of investigators spinning fanciful yarsn. Although these have no evidentiary value, such leaks can and do prejudice public opinion and, sometimes, even legal processes. In March, Delhi HC had asked Delhi Police to identify the source of a supplementary chargesheet leak containing an accused's alleged disclosure statement. Police claimed the leak wasn't from its end. But that doesn't answer the question of accountability. Investigating officers chargesheets own moral responsibility to do justice to both victims and suspects. The spirit of Constitution's Article 20(3) and 21 the principle of innocent until proven guilty and the right to reputation and fair trial. Courts are right to ask how reputation-damaging media leaks can be stopped. The answer is in the hands of leakers. Indians have always lamented their 'weak' passport, now rated less powerful than 83 others. The 'red list' travel bans that have gone up since the Covid second wave worsen the feeling. Countries like the US and UK have opened special windows for students though, with some well-heeled parents leaving no stone unturned to drop off their children on campus. Coming on top of reports and ancedotal evidence of an exodous of high net-wroth individuals, and murmurs about everyone who can afford it preparing to send their child abroad, this has made "brain drain" dinner table conversation once again.
