Times Now censured for not revealing defence analyst’s business interests

A Mumbai resident filed a complaint with the NBSA, the regulatory body set up by the country’s leading news broadcasters, in May saying Raza was a consultant for foreign arms manufacturers, suppliers and dealers and ran the business through M/s Maroof Raza & Associates.

Given Raza’s business interests, he said, there was a case of conflict of interest in his participation in the debate as a defence expert. The complainant also said that in cases where there was a possibility of conflict between the business interests of an expert and the subject matter on which he or she was expressing opinion, it should be obligatory on the part of the channel to make proper disclosures so as to allow the audiences to assess the views expressed objectively.

The Tatra trucks controversy relates to allegations by former Army chief V K Singh that he was offered a bribe to clear the all-terrain vehicle and hinting that the trucks were sub-standard.

The NBSA heard Times Now’s and Raza’s defence and held that not disclosing Raza’s business interests was a lapse of the channel. In its order passed on October 25, the NBSA said: “(In) the present case, considering the fact that Maroof

... contd.