New Delhi: In a dramatic turn of events, India TV has announced plans to pursue legal action against Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh, as well as national spokesperson Ragini Nayak. The controversy erupted following accusations by the Congress leaders that Rajat Sharma, Editor-in-Chief of India TV, had verbally abused Nayak during a live debate.
On June 11, India TV released a statement vehemently denying the allegations and defending Sharma’s reputation. Ritika Talwar, Legal Head of India TV, emphasized Sharma’s longstanding credibility and dignified conduct in the media industry. “Mr. Sharma is known for his cultured and civilized behavior both on and off the air. Television viewers worldwide appreciate his polite and gentle style of anchoring,” Talwar stated.
The allegations surfaced on June 10, when Congress spokesperson Nayak took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse Sharma of verbal abuse during a live broadcast. She expressed her dismay, writing, “What more can be lower than this in journalism?”
ALSO READ: Aaj Tak Achieves 50% Reach in Hindi News Coverage on Election Results Day
In response, Talwar’s statement categorically rejected the accusations, labeling them as baseless and defamatory. “The allegations made by you in your posts are absolutely false and lack any basis and foundation whatsoever. They are malicious and defamatory and clearly constitute fake news. You have blatantly violated all limits of public decency by falsely accusing a personality of high repute. We are taking legal advice on this to take further action,” the statement read.
India TV also addressed reports that Congress planned to hold a press conference regarding the incident, warning them against proceeding. Talwar reiterated, “We reiterate that Mr. Sharma has never used abusive language in private or public life. The inference drawn by you from the non-existent and imaginary is per se defamatory. We reserve the right to take further legal action.”
This development marks a significant escalation in the conflict between the Congress party and India TV, with potential legal battles looming. The incident has drawn widespread attention, spotlighting the tension between media figures and political leaders.
