The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has fined Zee News ₹1,00,000 for airing an unverified video that linked a traffic jam on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway to a truck driver offering Namaz.
The Authority held that the channel failed to verify the viral clip before telecast. It also issued fresh guidelines for broadcasters and digital news publishers on using social media content.
NBDSA Chairperson Justice A.K. Sikri (Retd.) passed the common order on February 17, 2026. The proceedings arose from complaints filed by Indrajeet Ghorpade, Utkarsh Mishra, and Syed Kaab Rashidi. The complaints concerned broadcasts aired on March 3 and 4, 2025 titled “ट्रक पर नमाज…जम्मू में नया बवाल शुरू!”.
What the Complaints Alleged
The complainants said Zee News aired a viral video claiming that a Muslim truck driver stopped his vehicle on the highway to offer prayers. The broadcast suggested that this act caused a major traffic jam.
However, fact-check reports and official traffic advisories later showed that severe weather and landslides had already disrupted traffic on the highway.
The complainants argued that the channel communalised a routine disruption and spread misinformation by relying on an unverified social media clip.
Zee News’ Stand
Zee News said it clearly mentioned during the broadcast that the video was viral and unverified. The channel argued that it reported content that was already widely circulating online.
It also informed the Authority that it deleted the video after discovering that it was fake.
During the hearing, Zee News admitted that it did not verify the authenticity of the clip before airing it.
NBDSA’s Findings
The NBDSA held that broadcasters must verify social media content before telecast. It ruled that Zee News violated the principle of “Accuracy” under the Code of Conduct.
The Authority stressed that merely describing a video as “viral” or “unverified” does not remove editorial responsibility.
The NBDSA observed that the violation could have justified a higher penalty. However, it considered the channel’s decision to delete the video after learning it was fake.
The Authority therefore imposed a fine of ₹1,00,000.
New Social Media Guidelines for Broadcasters
The NBDSA noted that broadcasters and digital publishers increasingly rely on social media material. It warned that such content often carries risks of misinformation, manipulation, and AI-generated deepfakes.
To address these concerns, the Authority issued the following directions:
- Mandatory Verification: Broadcasters must verify all information, images, and videos sourced from social media before publication or broadcast.
- Independent Corroboration: Wherever possible, they must support such material with ground reporting and reliable sources, including eyewitnesses, police authorities, and official government channels.
- Check for Manipulation or AI Generation: Broadcasters must examine whether images or videos have been altered, distorted, or created using artificial intelligence.
- No Out-of-Context Use: Even authentic material must not be presented in a misleading manner.
- Heightened Scrutiny in Sensitive Matters: Reports relating to military operations, armed conflicts, communal incidents, public disorder, or crime must strictly meet standards of accuracy and public interest.
- Disclaimer Not Enough: Simply stating that a video is viral or unverified does not absolve a broadcaster of responsibility under the Code.
Final Directions
The NBDSA directed that these guidelines be circulated among members and editors of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) for strict compliance.
It also ordered that the decision be uploaded on the NBDA website, included in the next Annual Report, and released to the media.
The Authority clarified that its findings concern broadcasting standards only and do not determine civil or criminal liability.
