Neha Rathore rejects ABP News apology, plans legal action over mental harassment
text_fields
Folk singer Neha Singh Rathore is preparing to file a defamation case against ABP News after the television network broadcast a report falsely linking her to an alleged sex racket in a hostel, prompting her to demand an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the publication.
The controversy arose on 17 October, when ABP News published a report on its digital platform bearing the headline, ‘Sex racket in a hostel linked to Neha Singh Rathore? Police conduct a raid!’ The report featured footage of a police raid at an unspecified location in Barmer district, Rajasthan, alongside a photograph of the singer, although no connection between her and the premises was established in the broadcast.
Rathore, who maintains that she neither owns a hostel nor has any association with the incident, alleged that the photograph had been taken during a previous interview at ABP News. She further claimed that the channel had neither contacted her nor attempted to obtain her response before broadcasting the report, raising serious questions about its editorial verification procedures.
Speaking to The Wire, Rathore said she was convinced that the incident could not be dismissed as a mere typographical error, and insisted that an impartial investigation should establish the motive behind the broadcast and identify those responsible. She added that she was consulting her legal team and intended to approach the courts.
The singer also expressed concern that the damage to her reputation would persist despite the channel’s subsequent apology, since screenshots of the report could continue circulating on social media and be used by political opponents and online trolls. She alleged that her outspoken political views might have contributed to the incident, although no evidence establishing such a motive has been presented.
Rathore recounted that she had been scrolling through YouTube when the report appeared on her feed, leaving her shocked and distressed. She said that she broke down in tears upon discovering that her name and photograph had been associated with an incident with which she had no connection.
ABP News subsequently issued a public apology, acknowledging that the report concerning Rathore was factually incorrect and expressing regret for the erroneous broadcast. However, the statement did not explain how her name and photograph had been included, who had verified the report or where editorial responsibility lay.
The National Commission for Women took suo motu cognisance of the matter on 19 October, with its chairperson, Vijaya Rahatkar, requesting the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure time-bound action through the relevant regulatory and self-regulatory bodies. The Commission also sought an action-taken report within 15 days.