NBDSA censures News18, Rubika Liyaquat for attributing guilt to Arvind Kejriwal in ED case; orders deletion

The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has censured News18 India channel and its anchor Rubika Liyaquat for attributing guilt to Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor scam which is still under probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)..In an order passed on January 24, the NBDSA directed the channel to delete the offending portions of the programme/ news debate which was telecast on March 28, 2024."The problem lay in the manner in which the anchor had attributed guilt in a matter that was sub-judice; this aspect of the broadcast was not only violative of the Specific Guidelines for Reporting Court Proceedings and the principle of neutrality under the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards but also the judgment of the Bombay High Court in Nilesh Navlakha v. Union of India," the order passed by chairperson retired Justice AK Sikri said.Pertinently, the NBDSA also took exception to the manner in which Liyaquat defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the same debate when one of the panelists in the debate had raised the issue of Electoral Bonds scheme and attributed corruption to Modi."It was expected that the anchor while defending the Prime Minister would exercise restraint, maintain a professional tone and refrain from indulging in a back and forth debate with the panelist as such discussion distracts from meaningful debate," the NBDSA said..The order was passed on a complaint filed by activist Indrajeet Ghorpade taking objection to the manner in which the debate programme titled "Goonj with Rubika Liyaquat; Arvind Kejriwal arrested" was conducted.He took specific objection to the manner in which guilt was attributed to Kejriwal by BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala which the anchor failed to correct.Ghorpade also highlighted that when the Samajwadi Party spokesperson made allegations of corruption against PM Modi, Liyaquat interrupted him and lectured him on how the Prime Minister of the country should not be criticised. The channel defended its actions and said that the anchor was reacting against the objectionable language used against the Prime Minister.As regards Poonawala's statement, the channel said that the same was backed by the spokesperson by showing arguments by Kejriwal's counsel in court in which he allegedly made an admission that the money trail in the liquor scam had already been expended.It was also contended by News18 that as a responsible channel, it had invited spokespersons affiliated with various political parties to the debate which showed a balanced approach. .The NBDSA after considering the submissions and examining the programme found that the same violated principles of neutrality, guidelines on reporting court proceedings and Bombay High Court's Nilesh Navlakha v UOI judgement. Hence, it directed the channel to delete the violating parts from the video within 7 days..Ghorpade appeared in person while Senior Counsel Puneesh Kochar appeared for News18 India.