The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has levied a fine of Rs 50,000 on Times Now news channel after holding that it had indulged in a “media trial” and “declared” the accused as “guilty” while reporting an alleged case of eve-teasing here.

The NBSA, a self regulatory body set up by News Broadcasters and headed by retired Supreme Court Judge R V Raveendran, has also asked the channel to air a message expressing regret regarding an interview that it had telecast.

In its detailed 15-page order, the NBSA said that it had received four different complaints related to a news report telecast by the channel in connection with the eve teasing incident.

The complaints were regarding the manner in which the channel reporter “virtually chased and interviewed” the reluctant accused in an alleged eve teasing incident in Delhi and adopted an “aggressive, intimidating and browbeating style and the telecast of the interview with tag lines treating the accused as guilty.”

The broadcaster responded to the complaints by telling the NBSA that it had covered the incident based on an FIR lodged with the police and keeping in view the concerns of the society. It also emphasised that it had no intention to portray the accused as guilty.

According to the NBSA order, the representative of the broadcaster said that certain comments made by the reporter could have been avoided but also pointed out that the accused had also been given a platform to express his version.

While considering all aspects, the NBSA also looked at some “judgemental accusations made by the reporter and some of the tag lines which were aired by the channel “which condemned the accused as guilty.”

“This is thus a clear case of the broadcaster holding the media trial and declaring the accused as guilty of eve teasing,” the NBSA said in its order. It also pointed to concern expressed by I&B minister Arun Jaitley regarding media trials at a recent lecture.

In its order, the NBSA said it is not unmindful why “public spirited media sometimes go overboard in their crusade against ‘crime’ and criminals.’

The “easy answer”, it said is “TRPs” but added that a more serious reason is that due to shoddy investigation, slipshod prosecution and the proverbial delays, it is very difficult to prove guilt. It becomes frustrating for law abiding citizens and “crusading” media to see when the guilty walk free.