NBDSA pulls up News18 again for linking Congress to Tirupati Laddu adulteration

After censuring the channel and its anchor, as well as instructing the removal of controversial content that portrayed Arvind Kejriwal as guilty in the liquor policy case, the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has directed News18 Rajasthan to take down an interview with Swami Dipankar, in which the Congress was accused of adulterating the Tirupati laddu.

The interview, featuring a self-styled godman, included discussions that allegedly blended opinion and speculation with factual reporting, which the regulatory body deemed inappropriate.

The controversy arose when the interview focused on claims of adulteration in the Tirupati Laddu, with the anchor raising questions about whether this was part of a conspiracy against the Hindu community.

Activist Indrajeet Ghorpade filed a complaint alleging that the channel was spreading unverified claims linking animal fat in the Laddu to a political conspiracy, which he argued violated principles of accuracy and fairness. The activist called for the removal of the broadcast and demanded clarification from the channel.

In its response, News18 Rajasthan stated that it had voluntarily revised the title and thumbnail of the interview but had not altered the content of the broadcast itself. The NBDSA highlighted discrepancies in the channel’s claims, pointing out that while the title of the video had been modified to soften its language, the broadcast’s content remained unchanged. Furthermore, the regulatory body noted that the interview had strayed from its intended subject, focusing instead on the interviewee’s views on Sanatan Dharma rather than the allegations of ghee adulteration in the Tirupati laddu.

The NBDSA criticised the programme’s overall tone, stating that it lacked accountability and objectivity and instead provided a platform for commentary unrelated to the core issue. Although News18 Rajasthan claimed to have removed the video, the NBDSA found that it was still accessible on the channel’s platform.

The channel has been instructed to take down the video within seven days of the regulatory body’s order, issued on 28 January 2025, to ensure compliance with its guidelines.