Neha Singh Smeared by Indian Media for Viral Song Honoring Muslim Contributions
Prominent folk singer Neha Singh Rathore has faced a severe and unfounded defamatory campaign by the Hindi news channel ABP News, which broadcast a false report alleging a police raid on a sex racket at a hostel associated with her. The controversy ignited when the channel posted a nine-second video clip on its digital platform with a malicious title insinuating her involvement. The targeted attack quickly sparked nationwide outrage, with critics and commentators denouncing the broadcast as an absolute moral collapse of partisan journalism and a deliberate attempt at character assassination.
Reacting strongly to the malicious broadcast, Neha Singh Rathore accused the channel of attempting to frame her as a prostitute and call girl to socially humiliate her for questioning government policies. In a fiery post on X, she criticized the systemic targeting of female critics, directly calling out the leadership and questioning the silence of oversight bodies. She also spoke over the phone with senior editor Rajnish Ahuja to demand accountability, confirming that the deeply disturbing fake news severely impacted her mental well-being and that she is moving forward with legal action.
Facing intense backlash, ABP Network issued a public clarification and apology on X a few hours later, admitting that the broadcast was factually incorrect and expressing sincere regret. However, Ms. Neha explicitly rejected the apology, stating that a simple sorry cannot undo the severe reputational damage or compensate for the psychological distress caused. Remarking that the channel turned journalism into a circus, she asserted that she does not want a superficial apology and is determined to seek justice through the courts.
The incident drew widespread condemnation from prominent journalists, digital rights experts, and political figures alike. Veteran journalist Ravish Kumar called the broadcast extremely shameful and demanded answers for how such an intentional smear occurred, while MediaNama founder Nikhil Pahwa noted that it was a clear violation of Press Council of India guidelines. Columnist Salman Soz also dismissed ABP’s apology as worthless and called for strict accountability. In a surprising display of cross-party solidarity, BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut also condemned the act, stating that broadcasting baseless defamatory information about a woman for TRPs is abhorrent and that the channel head must take responsibility.
Despite the issued apology and widespread condemnation, ABP News has yet to offer any official explanation regarding how the unverified report was authorized or aired. The egregious incident has reignited intense national debate surrounding media ethics, accountability, the proliferation of fake news for TRP gains, and the systemic targeting of female critics in India. As the legal battle looms, the controversy remains a stark reminder of the profound challenges facing contemporary media integrity.
