NBSA Directs AajTak, Zee News, News 24 and India TV to Comply with its order to Air Apologizes for Insensitive Reporting on Sushant Singh Rajput's Death [READ ORDER]

In a pursuit to get higher viewership from Sushant Singh Rajput's case, many news channels have come under the radar of the NSBA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority).

Complaints were made against few media channels to the NSBA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority) for running news without cross-examining and highlighting photoshopped tweets.

The complainants and representatives from the news channels had a virtual meeting with the NBSA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority) on September 24, 2020, in relation to the above complaints.

On Saturday that is October 24, 2020, the NSBA (News Broadcasting Standards Authority) has directed television channels AajTak, Zee News, News 24, and India TV to issue an apology for its insensitive reporting and sensationalized reporting of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.

The NSBA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority) has found them in violation of its guidelines and asked the above channels to apologize to its viewers on air.

 Earlier the NSBA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority) issued a warning to News Nation and ABP News and fined AajTak Rs 1 lakh for manufacturing tweets and attributed them to Sushant Singh Rajput.

AajTak, had used the headline “AiseKaise hit-wicket ho Gaye Sushant?" and Zee News had used “Patna ka Sushant, Mumbai me fail Kyun?" and News24 said "Hey, why didn’t you watch your own film, Sushant?" a reference used to his movie Chhichhore which dealt with the topic of mental health.

AajTak reporter had barged into Sushant Singh Rajput's father's house in Patna shortly after his son’s death and constantly asked him questions about the same.

On October 6, 2020, NBSA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority) had said that the text, date, and time of the apology will be given to these broadcasters.

The NBSA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority) has now directed AajTak to air an apology on October 27, 2020, at 8 pm and pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh for attributing fake tweets to the actor and reporting them as his last tweets.

Zee News has been asked to air an apology also on October 27 for sensationalizing Sushant Singh Rajput’s death by running insensitive tag lines.

 India TV has been asked to air an apology also on October 27 as it has repeatedly described the color of the lips and the marks on the neck following his death.

The channel had also repeatedly shown the body carried out of Sushant Singh Rajput’s apartment covered in a cloth.

News 24 is to telecast an apology on October 29 for insensitive and sensational coverage and using taglines that were offensive and affects the dignity of the deceased.

The NSBA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority) has asked ABP News to remove objectionable videos of the coverage of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.

In its order NSBA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority) observed that this news is a matter of discussion and disseminating information media is facilitating the citizenry to avail this right.

 [READ ORDER]