Published Oct 18, 2026 | 6:15 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 18, 2026 | 6:15 PM
The channel ran a nine-second clip of a purported police raid on Saturday.
Synopsis: Hindi-language TV news channel ABP News has come under heavy fire online after running a false report suggesting that police had busted a “sex racket” at a hostel associated with Bhojpuri folk singer and social media personality Neha Singh Rathore. Rathore accused the channel of trying to brand her a prostitute and call girl and humiliate her because she questions the government. Hours later, ABP issued a “clarification” and apology, admitting that the report was incorrect.
Hindi-language TV news channel ABP News has come under fire after running a false report suggesting that police had busted a “sex racket” at a hostel associated with Bhojpuri folk singer and social media personality Neha Singh Rathore.
The channel ran a nine-second clip of a purported police raid on Saturday, 17 October, with the caption: “नेहा सिंह राठौर वाले हॉस्टल में S*X रैकेट? पुलिस ने मारा छाप !” (Sex racket at the hostel associated with Neha Singh Rathore? Police raid the premises!)
The post drew immediate backlash. Rathore accused the channel of trying to brand her a prostitute and call girl and humiliate her because she questions the government.
“This channel wants to label me as a prostitute and call girl. If I question the government, these sold-out channels will try to humiliate me like this. Has the women’s commission [National Commission for Women] of this country died? These lapdog channels aren’t getting their fill from doing BJP’s brokerage. Now they want to feed on the honor of daughters. Narendra Modi, you have turned this country into hell for daughters,” she wrote in a post on X.
बहुत कुछ कहना है मगर इस वक़्त यह देख कर अफ़सोस से भर गया हूँ। शर्म आ रही है। गोदी मीडिया लोकतंत्र का हत्यारा है। इसका कभी इस हवाले कभी उस हवाले से बचाव करने वाले भी इसमें शामिल हैं। यह कोई मामूली ग़लती तो नहीं जो हो जाती है। जो गोदी मीडिया वोट चोरी का बचाव कर सकता है उससे मुझे उम्मीद नहीं कि इसके ख़िलाफ़ बोलेगा। जिस चैनल का नाम नेहा ने लिया है उसे जवाब तो देना चाहिए कि ऐसा क्यों हुआ, कैसे हुई? क्या गोदी मीडिया का कोई भी चैनल इस पर डिबेट करेगा? रिजीम चेंज की नौटंकी वाले क्या एक महिला के साथ हुई इस घृणित कार्रवाई पर बहस कर पाएंगे कि उन्हें और कहाँ तक गिरना है और कब तक इस खाई में गिरते रहना है?
— ravish kumar (@ravish_journo) October 17, 2026
Hours later, ABP issued a “clarification” and apology, admitting that the report was incorrect.
“Clarification and Apology: A news item related to folk singer Neha Singh Rathore was broadcast on ABP Network’s digital platform, which was found to be incorrect based on facts. We regret this erroneous broadcast and seek forgiveness for it,” the statement read.
Rathore condemned the post and said she would take legal action.
“First, call some girl a ‘call girl’ and ‘prostitute’, run the news; when there’s backlash, just say ‘sorry’! Have you turned this into a circus? Do you have any idea what your ‘fake news’ and this desperate bid for big-time brokerage have done to my mental state? We’ll meet in court. I want justice, not forgiveness,” she said.
Also Read: Democracy’s shame: Delhi Police’s violence reverberates across India
The episode drew widespread criticism of ABP. Veteran journalist Ravish Kumar demanded that the channel explain how the erroneous broadcast happened.
“I have so much to say, but at this moment, seeing this has filled me with regret. I feel ashamed. Godi media is the murderer of democracy. Those who defend it sometimes by citing this reference, sometimes that, are also complicit in this. This isn’t some minor mistake that just happens. I don’t expect a godi media that can defend vote theft to speak out against this. The channel whose name Neha has mentioned should at least respond—why did this happen, how did it happen?” he said in a post on X.
“Will any godi media channel hold a debate on this? Those who put on the charade of regime change—can they even debate this vile action against a woman, and ask how much further they need to fall, and how long they’ll keep tumbling into this abyss?”
बहुत कुछ कहना है मगर इस वक़्त यह देख कर अफ़सोस से भर गया हूँ। शर्म आ रही है। गोदी मीडिया लोकतंत्र का हत्यारा है। इसका कभी इस हवाले कभी उस हवाले से बचाव करने वाले भी इसमें शामिल हैं। यह कोई मामूली ग़लती तो नहीं जो हो जाती है। जो गोदी मीडिया वोट चोरी का बचाव कर सकता है उससे मुझे उम्मीद नहीं कि इसके ख़िलाफ़ बोलेगा। जिस चैनल का नाम नेहा ने लिया है उसे जवाब तो देना चाहिए कि ऐसा क्यों हुआ, कैसे हुई? क्या गोदी मीडिया का कोई भी चैनल इस पर डिबेट करेगा? रिजीम चेंज की नौटंकी वाले क्या एक महिला के साथ हुई इस घृणित कार्रवाई पर बहस कर पाएंगे कि उन्हें और कहाँ तक गिरना है और कब तक इस खाई में गिरते रहना है?
— ravish kumar (@ravish_journo) October 17, 2026
Economic development consultant and author Salman Soz called ABP’s apology “worthless” and demanded accountability.
“So you put out information without first checking the facts? In today’s world, lies spread super fast. Your apology is worthless. There must be accountability. I hope Neha files a defamation suit, makes you pay and sets an example for others,” he wrote in a post on X.
So you put out information without first checking the facts? In today’s world, lies spread super fast. Your apology is worthless. There must be accountability, I hope @nehafolksinger files a defamation suit, makes you pay and sets an example for others.
— Salman Soz (@SalmanSoz) October 17, 2026
Nikhil Pahwa, founder and editor of Medianama, also called for those responsible to be held accountable.
“This was horrible and is the kind of thing that shouldn’t happen in the news media. How can you even claim that it was news? It was out and out slander. There are honest mistakes, and there is fabrication. This didn’t appear to have a reasonable effort to validate something. It appears to be a clear violation of PCI guidelines,” he said in a post on X.
“Digital increases the ease and pace of publishing and distribution, but it doesn’t mean reduced scrutiny. Someone made a decision to run with this,” he added.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
