NBDSA Raps News 18 India, Rubika For Suggesting Arvind Kejriwal Is Guilty In Liquor 'Scam', Directs To Delete Broadcast Segment

The News Broadcasting Digital Standards Authority has directed news channel News 18 India to remove a portion of its broadcast after finding that a portion of the footage of a news debate showed its anchor Rubika Liyaquat attributing guilt to former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise case which it said is "sub judice" and violated the code of conduct. The complainant Indrajeet Ghorpade claimed that by airing the impugned broadcast, the broadcaster had violated the principles concerning Impartiality and Objectivity in reporting and Ensuring Neutrality under the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards, Guidelines 1, 2, 4, 4, 4, 5 and 9 under the Specific Guidelines for Reporting Court Proceedings, Guidelines concerning Accuracy and Impartiality, Neutrality and Fairness under the Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage apart from violating the Specific Guidelines for Anchors conducting Programmes including Debates. However, the problem lay in the manner in which the anchor had attributed guilt in a matter that is sub judice; this aspect of the broadcast NBDSA observed was not only violative of the Specific Guidelines for Reporting Court Proceedings and the principle of neutrality under the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards, but also the judgment of the Hon'ble BombayHigh Court in Nilesh Navlakha c Anr. As far as the complainant's grievance regarding the anchor was concerned, the broadcaster submitted that the anchor had "merely warned the panellists to speak about the Prime Minister in a polite manner" stating that if anyone had concerns regarding corruption, they could raise the same before a Court of law.