New Delhi: The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has directed Zee News to remove all content related to its October 2024 broadcasts on the alleged ‘Mehndi Jihad’ in Uttar Pradesh, finding that the channel violated neutrality principles by failing to present the views of affected parties or the government, while amplifying statements made by Hindu organizations.
Justice A.K. Sikri (Retd.), Chairperson of NBDSA, issued the order on September 25, 2025, admonishing the broadcaster for one-sided reporting and directing the removal of videos from the channel’s website and YouTube within seven days.
The authority addressed Complaint No. 152, filed by Indrajeet Ghorpade, against four broadcasts aired on Zee News between October 17–20, 2024, concerning allegations made by Hindu organizations in Muzaffarnagar during the Karwa Chauth festival.
The broadcasts reported claims by Hindu groups that Muslim mehndi artists spat in henna and added non-vegetarian ingredients before applying it to Hindu women, allegedly concealing their identities to marry Hindu women and force religious conversions.
The organizations reportedly established thirteen mehndi camps for Hindu women, conducted identity verifications of stall owners, performed puja of lathis (bamboo sticks), and warned authorities that they would take the law into their own hands by beating anyone caught applying mehndi without proper identification.
The complaint alleged that the broadcasts used inflammatory tickers such as “Special drive against Mehndi Jihad,” “First disclose your identity then apply mehndi,” “Only the one who shows Aadhaar can apply mehndi,” “Mehndi Jihad naya fasad,” “Pakde jaane par sabak sikhaya jayega” (will be taught a lesson if caught), “Tibadiyon ke liye lathi taiyar” (sticks ready for jihadis), and “Lathi se lais rahenge, jibadiyon ko rokenge” (will stop jihadis armed with sticks).
The complainant argued that using the term “Mehndi Jihad” mirrored discredited conspiracies like “Love Jihad” aimed at demonizing interfaith interactions, adding that demanding Aadhaar verification based on religion was discriminatory, and the boycott of Muslim workers amounted to economic apartheid.
Ghorpade contended that the broadcasts amplified rhetoric inciting mob violence, created a climate of intimidation and vigilantism, and were aired on national television without critique or accountability—making them both dangerous and irresponsible.
The complaint further alleged that the channel aired these views with an approving tone, offering no counter-narratives, expert voices, or legal perspectives. It accused the broadcaster of using loaded communal terms like “Mehndi Jihad” without evidence and presuming Muslim men guilty of deceitful intent without presenting any Muslim perspective or independent verification.
Zee News responded that the broadcasts were factual and neutral, merely reporting on developments and statements made by local groups in western Uttar Pradesh. The broadcaster claimed that it was highlighting incidents where certain Hindu groups had declared that Hindu married women should have henna applied exclusively by Hindu women.
The channel further stated that its intention was to inform law enforcement and authorities about activities in the state, emphasizing the need to prevent potential violence and alert agencies to prepare for such incidents.
Zee News argued that the tickers and headlines were derived directly from public statements made by members of Hindu organizations, not solely the broadcaster’s creation, and were presented to reflect the viewpoints of those groups, whose representatives were interviewed.
The broadcaster denied disseminating misinformation about Muslims or promoting boycotts, asserting that its primary objective was to inform the public about slogans propagated by organizations, without amplifying violent or anti-Muslim rhetoric.
The channel also contended that the term “Mehndi Jihad” was used by persons interviewed in reference to the incident and, while the language may not have been tasteful, no guideline violations occurred since the broadcasts did not disseminate misinformation, promote violence, or call for a boycott of Muslim mehndi artists.
At the hearing on May 22, 2025, the complainant reiterated that the anchor’s tone was supportive of Hindu organizations’ stance, presenting violent threats and discriminatory actions as justified—without critiquing vigilante acts like lathi poojas, threats of physical assault, or forced Aadhaar checks.
The complainant further pointed out that repeated slogans such as “Dande maaro salon ko” and “De danda dar” were aired without warnings, censorship, or condemnation, thereby normalizing violent vigilante behavior while encouraging public surveillance and economic and physical boycotts based on religion.
After reviewing the footage, NBDSA found that while ample airtime was given to Hindu groups in all four broadcasts, the broadcaster failed to present any other point of view, including those of affected individuals or the government.
The authority held that “failure to present the views of all affected parties constituted a violation of the principle of neutrality under the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and the Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage.”
NBDSA observed that while the broadcaster claimed its tickers and headlines merely reflected third-party statements intended to inform the public, it “did not issue any clarification that these were statements made by third parties, nor any disclaimer that the tickers did not represent the views of the broadcaster.”
Emphasizing the media’s democratic responsibility, NBDSA stated that “while it cannot comment on the subject of the broadcast itself, which is part of editorial discretion protected under freedom of speech and expression, it is necessary to remind the media of its role as the fourth pillar of democracy in shaping public discourse.”
The authority advised that “when dealing with potentially sensitive subject matters, broadcasters must critically examine the content they air to ensure that it aligns with journalistic standards outlined in the Code of Conduct.”
Consequently, NBDSA decided to admonish the broadcaster and directed it “to be careful in future by obtaining views from the other side as well.”
Zee News has been directed to remove videos of the impugned broadcasts from its website and YouTube channel, delete all related hyperlinks, and confirm compliance in writing within seven days of the order.
The order will be circulated to all NBDA members, editors, and legal heads, hosted on the NBDSA website, included in the next annual report, and released to the media.
NBDSA clarified that statements made by parties during proceedings and any findings or observations “are only in the context of examining whether there are violations of broadcasting standards and guidelines” and “are not intended as admissions by the broadcaster or findings regarding any civil or criminal liability.”
Case Title: Indrajeet Ghorpade vs. Zee News
