In a pursuit to get higher television rating points (TRP), many news channels came under the scanner of the NSBA (News Broadcasting Standard Authority) in Sushant Singh Rajput's case. Running news without cross-examining and highlighting photoshopped tweets, the media of today are facing the problem of credibility ever since Sushant Singh Rajput's case has come into the limelight.
Complaints were made against few media channels to the NSBA in Sushant Singh Rajput's case. The complaint was filed by Saurav Das, Nilesh Navlakha, Inrajeet Ghorpade, etc. Going by the reports, NBSA directed the broadcasters Aaj Tak, Zee News, and News 24 to air an apology. NSBA found that the programs carried the aforementioned taglines have violated the Specific Guideline Covering Reportage.
News 24 used the headlines “Hey, why didn’t you watch your own film Sushant?” Zee News, another leading Hindi news channel flashed this headline while asking “7 questions on Sushant’s death”- “Patna ka Sushant, Mumbai me fail kyu?”.
Aaj Tak, displayed headlines while covering the story- like “Aise kaise hit-wicket ho gaye Sushant?”. Sushant zindagi ki pitch par hit-wicket kaise ho gaye”, ‘Sushant itne ashant kaise’?
To News Nation, NSBA said, "As far as the channel News Nation was concerned, in view of fact that the channel had profusely regretted the telecast, a warning be issued to the said channel to the same effect to not repeat the violation in future."
With respect to the telecast of the channel ABP Manjha, the fact that the close-up images of the body of Sushant Singh Rajput were not shown, NBSA issued a warning to the said channel not to repeat the violation in the future.
With regard to the telecasts of the channels Aaj Tak and India TV, NBSA decided that the channels should apologize for the egregious violations of the aforesaid Guidelines and in particular for the manner in which the images of the body of Sushant Singh Rajput were shown.
NBSA decided that the videos of the said programs if hosted, on the website of the broadcasters, YouTube or other links should be removed immediately and confirmed to NBSA within seven days. The text, date and time of the apology will be given to the broadcaster. Proof of compliance of telecast of the apology to be submitted on compact disc within 7 days of telecast.
NBSA has decided that the broadcaster Aaj Tak be directed to air an Apology in view of the fact that it did not conduct the due diligence required prior to telecasting the tweets and attributing them to late Sushant Singh Rajput.
Finally, the NBSA came hard on Aaj Tak and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for telecasting fake tweets relating to actor late Sushant Singh Rajput.