Why has news media regulator fined Times Now Navbharat and News18 India and warned Aaj Tak against religious stereotyping?

The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority under the chairmanship of Justice A.K Sikri found the three news channels had violated the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and the principles relating to impartiality, objectivity, neutrality and accuracy for inappropriate reporting.

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THE News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has fined news agency Times Now Navbharat and News18 India for violating the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards and the principles relating to impartiality, objectivity, neutrality and accuracy and the guidelines of the Bombay High Court in Nilesh Navalakha versus Union of India & Ors (2021).

In Nilesh Navalakha, the court laid down guidelines stating that the media should not report on ongoing proceedings in a manner that could cause prejudice to the accused person's rights and lead to a media trial.

One Indrajeet Ghorpade filed a complaint against Times Now Navbharat, News 18 India and Aaj Tak for spreading hatred and communal disharmony and dehumanising a specific community.