Any action against non-NBSA channels in Rakul case, asks Delhi high court

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Thursday directed the Centre to inform if action has been taken against media channels that are not members of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA). The HC was hearing a complaint filed by actor Rakul Preet Singh.

Rakul Preet Singh case in Bollywood drug nexus angle: Delhi HC asks MIB to act against non-NBSA media channels

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Thursday directed the Centre to inform if action has been taken against media channels that are not members of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA). The HC was hearing a complaint filed by actor Rakul Preet Singh.

The court sought to know if the I&B ministry took action and found if channels beyond the reach of NBSA violated Cable TV Networks Act in broadcasting content relating to Rakul. Justice Prathiba M Singh sought the status report and listed the matter for further hearing on May 20.

Meanwhile, the I&B ministry filed an affidavit where it informed that NBSA has passed 10 orders in respect of the complaint filed by the actor. It said these orders relate to action taken by NBSA on news reports/programmes telecast by 13 TV channels. The ministry also informed the HC they are examining the representation of the actor where she has sought the court’s intervention to ensure the media does not broadcast any programme or publish, print or circulate any article or writeup connecting her with the Rhea Chakraborty drug case.

In an application filed earlier, Rakul sought an interim order against the media till the time the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Mumbai, completes the investigation in the drug case and files an appropriate report before the competent court.

In its orders against various TV channels, NBSA has observed that several news reports were based on information received from NCB, which has not issued any statement disputing the same. NBSA has censured some TV channels for use of “misleading” hashtags and taglines in their broadcasts of the case.