NCW Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Fake Sex Racket Story Against Neha Singh Rathore; “I Want Justice, Not Apology,” Singer Says

New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of a video news report telecasted by a media organisation that linked folk singer Neha Singh Rathore to an alleged sex racket. Following widespread public criticism, the concerned news network admitted that the report was factually incorrect and issued an apology.

A few days ago, a news channel had transmitted a report connecting folk singer Neha Singh Rathore to a purported sex racket. The report made serious allegations against her character, which later proved to be false. Neha openly condemned the fabricated news and repeatedly questioned the credibility of the news channel on social media.

Amid strong public criticism and widespread opposition on social media, the news organisation itself acknowledged that the report was factually wrong and issued an apology. However, Neha refused to accept the apology, stating: “Screenshots of their fake news will always remain online and will keep being used against me. Will their apology compensate for this damage caused to me? I do not want an apology; I want justice.” Neha has given clear indications of initiating criminal action against the news channel in the matter.

This incident has once again brought into focus the issue of character assassination of women and the spread of false news through digital platforms.

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, urging it to direct the relevant regulatory and self-regulatory bodies to take immediate and time-bound action. These include the Press Council of India, the Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC), the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA), and the Digital Publishers Content Grievance Council (DPCGC).

The Commission has emphasised action under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the ministry within 15 days.

The National Commission for Women has stated that safeguards are essential against gender-based character assassination and digital harassment of women. Media freedom must be exercised responsibly, with due regard for factual accuracy, women’s dignity, privacy, and reputation. The Commission has made it clear that strict action should be taken against platforms publishing false and defamatory content so that such incidents do not recur in the future.

In this matter, Neha has posted several statements on her social media. In one post, she said: “Some people are saying that the fake news spread more because I spoke up. If I had remained silent and not spoken, this fabricated news would not have spread so widely. They say that girls from respectable families do not themselves circulate news of their own humiliation. First of all, if a news channel fabricates a story and humiliates a woman, it is the credibility and respect of that news channel that is destroyed. The suffering of the victim woman begins with the rumours spread by that fake news, which have no end. Secondly, those who advise silence in the face of humiliation and harassment are, behind the curtain, supporters of the harassers. These are the same people who silence little girls in the name of family honour when atrocities are committed against them. Thirdly, it is my dignity that has been hurt, it is my honour that has been assaulted, so it is I who must speak… The country’s women’s commission will not come to protect my honour. So I will keep speaking again and again… I will speak as many times as I feel pain… the greater the suffering, the more I will speak. Fourth and finally: those who remain silent will also be finished. I have hope in the justice system of this country that I will certainly get justice.”

It was after this post by Neha that the National Commission for Women issued directions to take cognizance of the matter.

Many people supported Neha in the matter. Educationist Maheshwar Peri tweeted: “I have spent years in media. Linking a woman’s name to a sex racket without any verification isn’t just a mistake. It is driven by hate and an intentional act to destroy reputation. In this case, there was no raid, no hostel and no source. This is malicious and intentional. A woman can be driven to suicide. Neha must pursue criminal charges against the channel so that other newsrooms are more careful. She must use this case to secure every woman and warn every newsroom driven by hate or pursuing an agenda. It will also tell every woman smeared this way and every newsroom that indulges in such reportage that a one-line ‘regret’ isn’t a commensurate compensation. Dear Neha Singh Rathore, you are brave. Fight it. Teach them a lesson. Show others the way. And if you need any help, people like us will treat it as a privilege.”

This case underlines the seriousness of false news being spread against women in the media and the character assassination carried out through digital platforms. The National Commission for Women has taken the issue seriously and demanded that the regulatory mechanism be activated.