Dainik Bhaskar publishes corrigendum, apologises to people of Tamil Nadu for fake news of attacks on migrant workers

Dainik Bhaskar corrigendum

“That immediately upon the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, circulating a WhatsApp message and other forms of media stating that the reports were not true, the concerned news articles were removed from all digital media platforms including the Twitter handle of Dainik Bhaskar on the same day and the version of DGP Tamil Nadu was published in the subsequent articles,” read the corrigendum.

The editorial team of Dainik Bhaskar also apologised to the people of Tamil Nadu and Bihar for reporting the news.

“The Dainik Bhaskar always promotes true and fact-based journalism. Any inconvenience caused to the court and people of Tamil Nadu and Bihar is regretted,” reads the corrigendum.

Allowing the advance bail application of Mishra, Justice AD Jagadish Chandira observed in a recent order that the media was considered to be the fourth pillar of democracy as it carried huge power and responsibility, and the public reposed their trust and confidence in the media.

Also read: Police book Opindia CEO, editor for migrant-attack fake news

The case

On 5, 6, and 7 March this year, the digital division of Dainik Bhaskar — a Hindi newspaper — published a series of news articles that claimed as many as 15 people had lost their lives in Taliban-style attacks being carried out against Hindi-speaking migrant labourers in Tamil Nadu.

The news outlet interviewed four people on 2 March from Tamil Nadu and, based on the inputs given by Senior Correspondent Vijay Singh Baghel, the videos were published on the outlet’s Twitter handle.

Subsequently, these claims were reported in the print edition of the news outlet, and widely circulated.

Following this, one Surya Prakash, a functionary of the IT Wing of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, lodged a complaint with the Thirunindravur police against the reporting.

Meanwhile, the Tiruppur North police also registered an FIR based on a complaint from one Kannagi, a special sub-inspector of police.

In both cases, the FIRs were registered under Sections 153A, 505(1)(b), and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code.

Apprehensive of being arrested by the police, Mishra approached the Madras High Court for anticipatory bail in both cases.

Also read: Migrants attacked in TN fake news case

Conditions for anticipatory bail

Granting Mishra’s prayer, the judge directed the editor to publish a corrigendum on the first page or homepage of all the publications, contending that they had published fake news without verifying the truth, and that nobody should follow suit.

He additionally directed the editor to tender an unconditional apology to the court and the people of Tamil Nadu.

The petitioner was also directed to report before the Inspector of Police (Conventional Crime), Central Crime Branch, Avadi Police Commissionerate, daily at 10:30 am, for a period of one week, and thereafter before the Inspector of Police, Tiruppur North Police Station, Tiruppur District, daily at 10:30 am, for a period of one week.

The court even directed him not to abscond either during the investigation or trial and also not to tamper with evidence or witnesses during the investigation or trial.

If any of these conditions were to be breached, Justice Chandira gave the liberty to the concerned magistrate or trial court to take appropriate action against the petitioner and also file a fresh FIR under Section 229A of the Indian Penal Code.

The court then adjourned the case for four weeks for reporting compliance.

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