Media trial influencing judiciary: Bengal speaker

West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee Sunday accused a section of media of "sensationalising" trivial matters being heard by courts which was influencing the judiciary.

"The (section of) media has been regularly sensationalising trivial matters which are sub-judice. They should not do this for I feel this has been influencing our judicial system," said Banerjee at an event.

"Influencing the judicial system like this is unwarranted," added the ruling Trinamool Congress leader.

Banerjee's comments came in for sharp criticism from legal experts.

"Being the speaker, he should be careful about what he says. Such comments are unwarranted," said noted lawyer and former city mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya .

"When the chief minister herself has been making allegations against the judiciary, such comments coming from her party leader is not surprising," lawyer and Congress leader Arunabha Ghosh said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier courted controversy by claiming that "judgments have been delivered in lieu of money".

The Trinamool enjoys a stormy relation with the media, repeatedly blaming it for spreading canards. Banerjee had even accused a section of media of "conspiring to kill her".