Zee News

{{Main articles|Zee Media Corporation}}

Zee Media Corporation Limited (formerly Zee News Ltd.) was founded by Essel Group. and it was incorporated on 27 August 1999 as Zee Sports Ltd. it was a subsidiary of the Zee Telefilms Ltd (later renamed to Zee Entertainment Enterprises).The company was reincorporated on 27 May 2004, as Zee News Ltd.{{Cite news|title=Zee Media Corporation Ltd.|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/company/zee-media-27705/information/company-history|access-date=25 February 2020}} It was demerged as a separate company of the Essel Group in 2006.{{Cite news|date=2006-12-14|title=Zee Telefilms demerges into 3 firms|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/zee-telefilms-demerges-into-3-firms-106121401118_1.html}} In 2013,{{Cite web|title=Zee Media Corporation History {{!}} Zee Media Corporation Information|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/zee-media-corporation-ltd/infocompanyhistory/companyid-18879.cms|access-date=2020-02-25|website=The Economic Times}} Zee News Ltd changed its name to Zee Media Corporation Limited.

The chairman of the group is Subhash Chandra, who is a Bharatiya Janata Party-backed member of the Rajya Sabha. The channel itself is included by critics among "Godi media" news outlets who report favourably for the BJP and Narendra Modi.Bhalla, Sakshi, Rik Ray, and Harsh Taneja. "[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1369118X.2024.2406819 When news is entertainment: explaining the persistence of misinformation through the information environment.]" Information, Communication & Society (2024): 1-20.

The channel was tried for allegedly extorting ₹1 billion from the Jindal Group revealed through a sting operation.{{cite news |last=Jebaraj |first=Priscilla |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jindal-plays-cd-claims-zee-editors-demanded-rs-100-crore/article4031340.ece |title=Jindal plays CD, claims Zee editors demanded Rs. 100 crore |date=28 July 2016 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=4 December 2014}} Two senior journalists Sudhir Chaudhary and Sameer Ahluwalia were arrested.{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/naveen-jindal-vs-zee-senior-journalists-arrested-over-alleged-extortion-298095 |title=Naveen Jindal vs Zee: Senior journalists arrested over alleged extortion |access-date=4 December 2014 |publisher=NDTV India}}{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Two-Zee-editors-arrested-for-Rs-100-crore-extortion-bid/articleshow/17391903.cms |title=Two Zee editors arrested for 'Rs 100-crore extortion bid' – Times of India |work=The Times of India|access-date=30 January 2018}}{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/jindal-group-and-zee-television-in-extortion-scandal/story-e6frg6so-1226527713986?nk=e835e32ddf2956600de185626015a1b1 |title=Jindal Group and Zee television in extortion scandal |access-date=4 December 2014 |publisher=The Australian}} The two were sent to 14-day judicial custody in Tihar jail and were ultimately released on bail.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20555718 |title=Zee editors in two-week custody |date=30 November 2012 |work=BBC News|access-date=7 August 2018 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/zee-news-editors-sent-to-tihar-jail/story-YhQqQk8V9HgADnCLtt5K0H.html |title=Zee News editors sent to Tihar jail |date=1 December 2012 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en|access-date=8 September 2019}}

Naveen Jindal had accused the two journalists of trying to extort {{INRConvert|1,000,000,000||lk=on|year=2011}} in advertisements for Zee News from him through blackmail by threatening to air stories against his company in the Coalgate scam.

Zee News denied the charges and made counter claims of Jindal offering them {{INRConvert|200000000||lk=on|year=2011}} to halt their investigations against Jindal Steel's involvement in the scam but filed no charges.{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Naveen-Jindal-accuses-Zee-News-of-extortion-channel-hits-back/articleshow/16956098.cms |title=Naveen Jindal accuses Zee News of extortion, channel hits back – The Times of India |date=25 October 2012 |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |access-date=3 November 2012}}

In July 2018, the Jindal Group withdrew the case against Zee News and both parties to the litigation stated that an out of court settlement had been reached which remains undisclosed.{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ed-charges-against-jindal-others-as-his-firm-settles-case-of-extortion-with-zee/ |title=ED charges against Naveen Jindal, others as his firm settles case of extortion with Zee |date=14 July 2018 |website=The Indian Express |language=en-US|access-date=12 February 2020}}

On 9 July 2020, Nepal's satellite and cable television operators banned Zee News and some other Indian privately owned news channels, citing "propaganda and defamatory report against Nepal government".{{cite news |title=Cable operators ban Indian news channels in response to 'insulting' video about prime minister |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2020/07/09/cable-operators-ban-indian-news-channels-in-response-to-insulting-video-about-prime-minister |access-date=13 July 2020 |publisher=The Kathmandu Post}}{{cite news |title=Nepal bans private Indian channels for airing 'false propaganda' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/nepal-bans-private-indian-channels-airing-false-propaganda-200710094837428.html |access-date=13 July 2020 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}

In June 2022, The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority said Zee News' headlines on Umar Khalid 'gave an impression that the accused had already been declared guilty' and asked them to take down the segments.{{cite news |title=Take down 'sensationalist' shows on Umar Khalid, regulator tells Zee, India TV, Aaj Tak |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/06/15/take-down-sensationalist-shows-on-umar-khalid-regulator-tells-zee-india-tv-aaj-tak |access-date=2022-09-13 |work=Newslaundry |date=2022-06-15}}

In the same month, The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority directed Zee News to take down a debate show from its website and social media handles about Muslim population for violating the regulator's code of ethics, saying it was "telecast without any data or substantial material to support it".{{cite news |author= |title='There was an agenda': Zee News directed to take down video on Muslim population|url=https://scroll.in/latest/1026212/there-was-an-agenda-zee-news-directed-to-take-down-video-on-muslim-population |work=Scroll.in|date=15 June 2022 |access-date=18 August 2022}} Further, the news regulator said that the manner in which the topic was framed and language used, it was clear that there was an agenda behind the debate.

Sudhir Chaudhary was the former editor-in-chief of Zee News and also the former anchor of the prime time show on the channel.{{cite web|title=Sudhir Chaudhary now also editor in Chief of zee business|url=http://www.exchange4media.mobi/tv/sudhir-chaudhary-now-also-editor-in-chief-of-zee-business_68276.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170715163422/http://www.exchange4media.mobi/tv/sudhir-chaudhary-now-also-editor-in-chief-of-zee-business_68276.html|archive-date=15 July 2017|access-date=15 July 2017}}

{{main|2016 JNU sedition controversy}}

Zee News reported that students from the Democratic Students' Union (DSU) raised "anti-India" slogans such as Bharat ki barbadi (Destruction of India) and Pakistan Zindabad (Long live Pakistan) in an event on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus.{{cite news |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/from-pakistan-zindabad-to-bharat-ki-barbaadi-slogans-that-were-raised-by-anti-nationals-in-jnu_1855562.html |title=From 'Pakistan Zindabad' to 'Bharat ki barbaadi' – Slogans that were raised by 'anti-nationals' in JNU |date=14 February 2016 |newspaper=Zee News}} In a letter Vishwa Deepak, a journalist working at the channel gave a statement that "our biases made us hear Bhartiya Court Zindabad (Long live Indian courts) as Pakistan Zindabad." Vishwa Deepak later resigned from the channel after expressing reservations over its "biased coverage". The footage on the newscast of Zee News had formed the basis of charges filed by the Delhi Police.{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/zee-news-producer-quits-video-we-shot-had-no-pakistan-zindabad-slogan/ |title=Zee News producer quits: Video we shot had no Pakistan Zindabad slogan |date=22 February 2016 |newspaper=The Indian Express}} Sudhir Chaudhary, editor and prime time anchor of the channel however on a telecast made a statement saying "our channel only showed what was happening there, whatever we have shown is 100% authentic."{{cite web |url=http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/02/21/we-speak-with-the-zee-news-journalist-who-resigned-over-the-channels-coverage-of-junrow/ |title=We speak with the Zee News journalist who resigned over the channel's coverage of #JNURow |date=21 February 2016 |newspaper=Newslaundry}} A forensic report of the Delhi Police however later stated that the footage was doctored.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=19 February 2016|title=Forensic experts say Kanhaiya video was doctored|language=en|newspaper=India Today|agency=|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/delhi/story/forensic-experts-say-kanhaiya-video-was-doctored-309626-2016-02-19|access-date=12 March 2019}}

Anchor Sudhir Chaudhary ran a Daily News and Analysis program announcing that the Indian 2000-rupee note issued after the 2016 Indian banknote demonetisation by the government have GPS chips which will allow the government to track currency, thereby reducing corruption.{{Cite web |url=http://scroll.in/article/821078/no-the-new-rs-2000-note-will-not-have-a-nano-gps-chip-that-can-track-it-anywhere |title=No, the RBI hasn't announced a Rs 2,000 note with a 'nano GPS chip' that it can track |last=Venkataramakrishnan |first=Rohan |date=9 November 2016 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US|access-date=24 February 2020}} The Minister of Finance, Arun Jaitley dismissed the report as being rumours.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/business/nano-chip-in-rs-2-000-notes-arun-jaitley-dismisses-rumours-1623483 |title=Nano Chip in Rs 2,000 Notes? Arun Jaitley Dismisses Rumours |website=NDTV.com|date=9 November 2016 |access-date=24 February 2020}} The Reserve Bank of India has also given a statement that no such chips are present in the currency notes.{{Cite news |last=Raghavan |first=TCA Sharad |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/No-electronic-chip-in-Rs.-2000-notes-RBI/article16440933.ece |title=No electronic chip in Rs. 2000 notes: RBI |date=9 November 2016 |work=The Hindu|access-date=24 February 2020|language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} The presence of "nano GPS" in the currency notes has been classified as a hoax being spread on social media.{{Cite web |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/social-networking/news/2000-note-nano-gps-chip-rumours-1623133 |title=No, New Rs. 2000 Note Will Not Have a 'Nano GPS Chip' |website=NDTV Gadgets 360 |date=9 November 2016 |language=en|access-date=9 April 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/no-rs-2000-note-wont-have-nano-gps-for-tracking-but-it-may-have-rfid-351039-2016-11-10 |title=No, Rs 2000 note doesn't have nano GPS for tracking but it may have RFID |date=10 November 2016 |website=India Today |language=en|access-date=9 April 2020 |last3=Ist |first3=2016 10:06}}

Zee News telecasted a video with the claim that the slogans of Pakistan Zindabad were raised at a rally in Alwar presided over by the Indian National Congress politician, Navjot Singh Sidhu.{{Cite web |url=https://zeenews.india.com/video/india/shocking-pak-supporters-shout-pakistan-zindabad-slogan-in-navjot-singh-sidhu-rally-2160544.html |title=Shocking! Pak supporters shout "Pakistan Zindabad" slogan in Navjot Singh Sidhu rally |date=3 December 2018 |website=Zee News |language=en|access-date=24 February 2020}} Sidhu accused Zee News of playing a doctored video and threatened to file a defamation suit against Zee News.{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/to-sue-channel-for-fake-news-sidhu/articleshow/66928000.cms |title=navjot singh sidhu: Will sue channel for fake news: Navjot Singh Sidhu {{!}} Jaipur News – Times of India|last1=Mehta|first1=Ashish|last2=4 December 2018|website=The Times of India|date=4 December 2018 |access-date=24 February 2020}} Sidhu stated that slogans of Jo Bole So Nihal were misconstrued as being in favor of Pakistan.{{Cite news |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/sidhu-to-file-defamation-suit-against-tv-channel-for-airing-fake-video-118120301205_1.html |title=Sidhu to file defamation suit against TV channel for airing 'fake' video |date=3 December 2018 |work=Business Standard|access-date=24 February 2020}} Zee News accused Sidhu of calling a news broadcast to be fake news sent a defamation notice to him. The noticed demanded an apology from him within 24 hours and threatened to pursue legal recourse if an apology was not issued by him.{{Cite web |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/cmcm/zee-news-sends-rs-1000-crore-defamation-notice-to-navjot-singh-sidhu-after-he-accuses-channel-of-playing-fake-video |title=Zee News sends Rs 1000 crore defamation notice to Navjot Singh Sidhu after he accuses channel of playing fake video |website=Free Press Journal |language=en|access-date=24 February 2020}}

Zee News telecasted a show featuring editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary where he claimed that Trinamool Congress legislator Mahua Moitra had plagiarised author Martin Longman in her maiden speech after being elected to the Lok Sabha.{{Cite web |url=https://www.altnews.in/zee-news-falsely-claims-mahua-moitra-plagiarised-her-maiden-parliament-speech/ |title=Zee News falsely claims Mahua Moitra plagiarised her maiden Parliament speech |last=Chaudhuri |first=Pooja |date=3 July 2019 |website=Alt News |language=en-GB|access-date=24 February 2020}} Moitra accused the channel of false reporting and submitted a breach of privilege motion against Zee News and Sudhir Chaudhary.{{Cite news |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/mahua-moitra-submits-breach-of-privilege-motion-against-zee-tv-ls-speaker-disallows-it-119070400464_1.html |title=Mahua Moitra submits breach of privilege motion against Zee TV, LS speaker disallows it |date=4 July 2019 |work=Business Standard|access-date=24 February 2020}} Martin Longman responded and stated that the legislator did not plagiarise him.{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/martin-longman-fascism-article-mahua-moitra-1561305-2019-07-03 |title=Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra didn't plagiarise: US writer of fascism article shuts trolls |date=3 July 2019 |website=India Today |language=en|access-date=24 February 2020 }} Subsequently, Moitra filed a criminal defamation case against Chaudhary.{{Cite web |url=https://thewire.in/law/mahua-moitra-criminal-defamation-sudhir-chaudhary |title=Mahua Moitra Files Criminal Defamation Case Against Sudhir Chaudhary |website=The Wire|access-date=24 February 2020}}

In January 2021, during 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest, Zee News aired a video of decorated tractors, claiming that it was evidence of a forthcoming protest by farmers, and commenting, "Why use such tractors of terror in the farmer protests? Are these tractors a means of waging war with the law? Are these farmers' tractors or terror tractors?". The video in question contained persons speaking in German and was confirmed as having been taken from a rally conducted in Germany in December 2020, in which tractors were decorated, and displayed to raise funds for children who were being treated for cancer.{{cite web|date=21 January 2021|title=Video from Germany aired by Zee News as farmers preparing for 'war' with tractors in India|url=https://www.altnews.in/farmer-protest-tractor-parade-republic-day-ireland-christmas-parade-video-false/|access-date=23 January 2021|website=Alt News|language=en-GB|archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121134812/https://www.altnews.in/farmer-protest-tractor-parade-republic-day-ireland-christmas-parade-video-false/|url-status=live}}

The 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election were held on 8 February 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/delhi/delhi-election-exit-polls-2020-results-live-news/liveblog/74028057.cms |title=Delhi Election 2020 : Polling held peacefully, counting of votes on February 11 |website=The Economic Times |language=en|access-date=28 March 2020}} The exit poll results predicted the Aam Aadmi Party to retain their government in National capital territory of Delhi. The Zee News telecast of the exit poll results featured Sudhir Chaudhary who indulged in polemic commentary against the voters of the election.{{Cite web |url=https://theprint.in/plugged-in/primetime/evm-tampering-in-delhi-across-channels-zees-sudhir-chaudhury-angry-at-voters/362327/ |title=EVM tampering in Delhi across channels & Zee's Sudhir Chaudhury angry at voters |last=Jha |first=Fiza |date=10 February 2020 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US|access-date=28 March 2020}} He stated that the people of Delhi had chosen Pakistan over Hindustan and that the rule of Mughals will now return. He further alleged that, the people of Delhi are lazy and only concerned about "freebies" and that issues like Ram Mandir, Balakot airstrike and Revocation of Article 370 do not matter to them which is why they have rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party.{{Cite web |url=https://www.jansatta.com/national/exit-poll-2020-delhi-election-zee-news-tv-anchor-sudhir-chaudhary-after-exit-poll-out-people-not-worried-about-country/1312191/ |title=वीडियो: एग्जिट पोल में AAP की जीत पर एंकर ने कहा- दिल्ली को देश टूटने की चिंता नहीं |date=9 February 2020 |website=Jansatta |language=hi|access-date=28 March 2020}} The telecast resulted in backlash and mockery of Zee News and Sudhir Chaudhary on social media.{{Cite web |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/how-does-this-qualify-as-journalism-twitter-mocks-zee-news-and-sudhir-chaudhary-for-blaming-delhi-voters-after-exit-polls |title='How does this qualify as journalism?': Twitter mocks Zee News and Sudhir Chaudhary for blaming Delhi voters after exit polls |date=9 February 2020 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en|access-date=28 March 2020}}

Misinformation During Ramadan 2025

In March 2025, Zee News and anchor Malhotra Malika were criticized for spreading misinformation about a Kashmiri man offering Zuhur prayers atop a vehicle in India administered kashmir. The channel falsely claimed he had blocked traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, but reports clarified that the actual cause was a landslide. Social media users accused Zee News of fueling communal tensions and demanded legal action.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-03-04 |title=FAKE NEWS: Zee News spreads misinformation about Kashmiri man offering namaz amid highway jam {{!}} Free Press Kashmir |url=https://freepresskashmir.news/2025/03/04/fake-news-zee-news-spreads-misinformation-about-kashmiri-man-offering-namaz-amid-highway-jam/amp/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=freepresskashmir.news |language=en-GB}}

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