NBDSA imposes fines on Zee News over ‘Truck Par Namaz’ broadcast
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In an order issued on February 17, the News Broadcasters and Digital Association said Zee News would have to pay a ₹1 lakh penalty for a programme aired in March last year titled “ट्रक पर नमाज…जम्मू में नया बवाल शुरू!” that wrongly suggested a traffic jam on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway was caused by a truck driver offering namaz.
The direction followed complaints by Indrajeet Ghorpade, Utkarsh Mishra and Syed Kaab Rashidi, a legal adviser to Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. The complainants said the channel had sensationalised a video clip and framed it in a way that cast a particular community in a negative light, arguing that the headlines, visuals and commentary could disturb communal harmony and breached broadcasting standards.
After reviewing the programme and the channel’s response, the NBDSA said the presentation did not meet norms of neutrality and responsible journalism. It asked the broadcaster to take down the disputed videos from its website, YouTube channel and other digital platforms if they were still available, and to air an apology in a prescribed format, Maktoob Media reported.
In a separate ruling, the NBDSA also considered a complaint against Zee Telugu over a broadcast from November 9, 2024, which described the arrest of people it labelled as “fake transgenders.” The complaint, again brought by Ghorpade, said the programme used offensive language and portrayed transgender persons in a stigmatising way.
The regulator noted that this was not the first time Zee News had faced action. In 2023, it was asked to apologise and fined over a debate show criticised for communal undertones while discussing interfaith relationships.
In another instance, the channel was ordered to remove a programme and pay a penalty for airing unverified claims aimed at a minority community in coverage linked to so-called “land jihad” narratives.
The NBDSA has also previously cautioned the channel over sensationalist reporting and inadequate verification, stressing that news outlets must avoid content that could fuel hatred or spread misinformation.
While the body can only impose fines and order apologies or takedowns, repeated findings against the same broadcaster have prompted media watchers to question how effective self-regulation is in checking communalised news coverage.