News18 India, anchor Rubika Liyaquat censured for calling Kejriwal guilty in liquor case
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News18 India and its anchor Rubika Liyaquat faced criticism from the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) for terming former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal guilty in the Delhi liquor policy case during a debate show, despite the investigation into the case yet to be finished.
While censuring News18 India and its anchor Rubika Liyaquat, the NBDSA directed the channel to remove the contentious portions of the programme within seven days, emphasising the importance of maintaining neutrality in debates.
The programme in question, Goonj with Rubika Liyaquat, aired on 28 March and centred on Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate over alleged corruption in the Delhi excise policy. The complaint, filed by Pune-based activist Indrajeet Ghorpade, accused the broadcast of breaching neutrality standards and promoting political bias, citing repeated unverified allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party leader.
In its detailed findings, the NBDSA noted that Liyaquat failed to counter false claims made by BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala, who alleged that courts had denied Kejriwal bail due to his involvement in the case. The regulatory body highlighted that such unchecked claims, combined with the anchor’s conduct during the debate, compromised the impartiality expected in televised discussions.
Liyaquat was also seen reprimanding Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ameeque Jamei for remarks critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which the NBDSA deemed inappropriate and inconsistent with broadcast guidelines. The regulatory authority observed that her approach lacked the restraint and professionalism required when moderating debates involving politically sensitive topics.
Referring to the Bombay High Court’s judgement in Nilesh Navlakha vs Union of India (2021), which underscores the necessity of neutrality in reporting subjudice matters, the NBDSA ruled that the programme violated established norms of impartiality and fairness.
While News18 India denied any implication of guilt and claimed that Liyaquat was merely moderating the debate’s tone, the regulator dismissed this defence, stating that the anchor’s conduct fell below acceptable standards.