A blend of drama and nationalism has slowly begun to dig the grave of mainstream Indian journalism.
From labeling a travel blogger a “Pakistani spy,” to falsely reporting Indian military control over Pakistani cities — parts of the Indian media have repeatedly crossed ethical lines in the name of patriotism and TRPs.
Section 1: The Jyoti Malhotra Case – A Trial by Media
Recently, several Indian news channels reported that Jyoti Malhotra, a travel blogger from Hisar, had been arrested for spying for Pakistan. These reports circulated widely with dramatic visuals and unverified claims.
However, the Hisar Police later clarified via an official press release that the case involved routine investigation and no evidence had yet emerged linking the woman to espionage or anti-national activity.
Yet major media platforms such as Republic TV, Zee News, and others had already declared her a “Pakistani agent” without awaiting police confirmation.
Section 2: Misreporting on Rahul Gandhi’s Turkey Visit
During Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Turkey, several channels claimed that Congress had set up a “secret office” there — insinuating connections with foreign or even anti-national forces.
Later, Congress and several international publications dismissed this as “fabricated propaganda”, but by then the narrative had already been seeded on social media, branding a national leader as a traitor.
Section 3: False Claims About War with Pakistan
At the peak of recent Indo-Pak tensions, some prominent Indian channels claimed that the Indian Army had taken control of Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
These claims were entirely unverified. Several fact-checking platforms like Alt News and BOOM Live found the footage used in these broadcasts to be manipulated — some clips were originally from Gaza or other unrelated global conflicts.
Media Houses Identified for Spreading Misinformation
- Zee News: Reported that Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif had taken refuge in a bunker and military leadership had changed — no official confirmation supported this.
- Times Now Navbharat: Broadcasted a video of an alleged attack on Karachi port, which was actually from a January 2025 plane crash in Philadelphia.
- Aaj Tak: Reported a suicide attack on an Indian Army brigade in Rajouri, which the Indian Army officially denied.
- DNA: Published a sensational “India attacks Pakistani Capital Islamabad!” post on social media, which was later deleted without clarification.
Hisar Police Press Release: 4 Key Findings (As of May 2025)
- Jyoti Malhotra was detained on May 16 under Section 152 of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) and other privacy-related laws.
The investigation is ongoing, and her detention was based on preliminary suspicions. - No evidence has been found so far suggesting that the accused had any access to military, defense, or other classified national information.
- Her mobile phone, camera, and other digital devices have been sent for forensic analysis.
Therefore, any media reports claiming “WhatsApp chat leaks” are misleading and not based on official sources. - The alleged ‘diary pages’ shown by some media outlets have no official basis.
Hisar Police has not recovered any such diary from the accused.
Section 5: Past Patterns – A History of Fabrication
This isn’t the first time Indian media has raced ahead of facts:
- During the Balakot airstrike, journalist Arnab Goswami was found to have prior information on the strike (as per leaked WhatsApp chats).
- An FIR was later filed in this regard.
- Other FIRs against him were quashed by courts citing misuse of legal process or protection of press freedom.
Despite this, several channels attempted to bury the story to protect ratings.
Closing Thought: When Media Becomes the Judge
In a democracy like India, freedom of the press is a foundational value.
But when the press delivers verdicts before investigations, its role shifts from watchdog to judge, jury, and executioner.
The Jyoti Malhotra case demonstrates how quickly a citizen’s reputation can be destroyed by media frenzy — often without evidence or accountability.
🧾 Cited by the New York Times
On May 17, 2025, the New York Times published a scathing article titled:
“How the Indian Media Amplified Falsehoods in the Drumbeat of War”
It stated:
“Previously credible Indian outlets became misinformation sources… Television anchors became cheerleaders for war.”
The report also noted the decline of press freedom in India since 2014, with many major media houses operating more like state-aligned propaganda machines than independent institutions.
