New Delhi: Neha Singh Rathore, a folk singer from Uttar Pradesh, is preparing to file a defamation case against ABP News alleging that the news channel broadcast a report using her name and photograph in connection with a matter that had absolutely nothing to do with her. Although the channel later issued a public apology – admitting that the report was factually incorrect – Neha argues that this cannot compensate for the damage inflicted upon her reputation and public image.In a conversation with The Wire, Neha stated that she demands an impartial investigation into the matter to determine the intent behind airing the report and to identify those responsible for its publication. She further added that she is consulting with her legal team and intends to approach the court.The controversy stems from a report published on the digital platform of ABP News on October 17. The headline of the report was: ‘Sex racket in a hostel linked to Neha Singh Rathore? Police conduct a raid!’The report was accompanied by a video depicting the police conducting a raid at an unspecified location, and the segment also included a photograph of Rathore. However, the broadcast content failed to clarify the connection between the location shown in the video and the singer.Rathore informed The Wire that she does not own any hostel. According to her, the photograph used in the report was captured by the ABP News team at the time when the channel had invited her as a guest.Neha asserted that neither was she contacted nor was any attempt made to seek her side of the story before the report was aired. She has rejected the idea that this was merely a routine journalistic oversight.On October 19, the National Commission for Women (NCW) also took suo motu cognizance of the matter. The Commission’s chairperson, Vijaya Rahatkar, has requested the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure time-bound action through the relevant regulatory and self-regulatory bodies. The Commission has also sought an action-taken report within 15 days.National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognizance of reports regarding the publication of allegedly defamatory content by a News linking folk singer Ms. Neha Singh Rathore to an alleged sex racket. Following public criticism, the news network reportedly acknowledged that the report was factually incorrect and issued an apology.The NCW Chairperson, Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar, has asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to direct the concerned regulatory bodies, such as the Press Council of India; administrative bodies, such as the Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC); and self-regulatory bodies of the media industry, such as the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) and the Digital Publishers Content Grievance Council (DPCGC), to ensure immediate and time-bound action under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.An Action Taken Report (ATR) has been sought within 15 days. The Commission has called for safeguards against gender-based character assassination and digital harassment against women.Media freedom must be exercised responsibly, with due regard for factual accuracy, women’s dignity, privacy and reputation.@MIB_India #suomotu #ncwindia #rashtriyamahilaaayog— NCW (@NCWIndia) October 19, 2026‘This was no typo’In a conversation with The Wire, Rathore said, “I am preparing to take legal action. My first demand will be for an impartial investigation into this matter – what was the motive behind it? What did they want? Why was this done? Because I am convinced that this was not merely a typographical error. My name and photograph were deliberately used.”She added, “The photograph that was used was taken when I appeared as a guest on ABP to participate in an interview. At that time, they had conducted a photo session. That same photograph was used.”Rathore also raised questions regarding the news outlet’s editorial verification process before publishing the report. She emphasised that it’s a journalist’s responsibility to reach out to the concerned person when covering a story. According to her, Rajnish Ahuja, the executive vice president of the ABP Network, even has her phone number.She said, “It’s really the editor’s responsibility to verify facts. If there was any doubt, they should have reached out to me. Rajnish Ahuja has my number saved as he himself mentioned. And even if he didn’t, that’s precisely what a journalist is supposed to do – they track down numbers and make contact.”According to her, after the fake news was aired, she spoke with Rajnish Ahuja over the phone. She also shared a video of this conversation on her social media account.‘An apology can’t compensate for the harassment’Rathor raised questions regarding ABP News’s apology on social media, asserting that screenshots of the news report would remain on the internet and could potentially be used against her in the future.She wrote, “Will the apology issued by ABP News put an end to the rumours that have already circulated against me? Does issuing an apology negate the offense that has been committed?”Rathore insisted that the fact that her name appeared in the news was not a mistake, rather the entire news was deliberately concocted to defame her. Calling it ‘supari journalism’, she said that such reports can be exploited by individuals to target her on social media platforms.Speaking to The Wire, she said, “A mere apology will not suffice. Given the fact that screenshots of the report will always remain permanently accessible online, how can it be compensated? Furthermore, regarding the mental harassment I am enduring, can an apology truly remedy such suffering? It cannot.”She mentioned that she is currently in discussion with her legal team and is preparing to take the matter to court. “There will be a defamation case. I will be heading to Delhi within a day or two. We’re definitely going to drag them through the courts. It is simply unacceptable to damage a woman’s dignity and reputation, then just say sorry and move on.”At the time of this conversation, Rathore said that she hadn’t filed a complaint with the police but she said that she was preparing to go to court two days after the festival.‘People might believe the rumour’Rathore is worried that the misconception created by the news broadcast could haunt her for a long time. She pointed out that even if the news is later corrected and an apology is issued, the old screenshots will continue to circulate on social media.Political opponents and those who troll her might use this news against her, she said speaking to The Wire.“These IT cell members and people with perverted mindsets are the ones trolling me, and they’ve been provided the screenshots. Now, what happens next, this topic will be in the news for a few days. Once some time passes, these same BJP leaders will refer to me as ‘Neha – the one running the sex racket’,” she alleged.She added, “No matter what I post online, the comments will continue to echo the story. People won’t even bother to find out the truth. They will say things like ‘there ought to be fire for smoke to rise’, or ‘A channel this big wouldn’t have run it without reason’. And who has the time to dig into the complete news about Neha Singh Rathore, when people can just grab the sensational bits and move on.”When Rathore was asked whether her outspoken stance on political issues could have been the reason for this incident, she agreed. She said, “Otherwise what grievance would I have with ABP News?”‘I cried inconsolably’Speaking about her reaction after watching the news, Rathore said that she was scrolling through YouTube when the ABP video popped up on her feed. She said that she was left completely stunned after viewing it.“First of all, I don’t own any hostel. I learned through this video that such things were happening in Barmer district of Rajasthan and a raid was also conducted. This is a two-year-old piece of news. They aired it with my name. Why was it aired? That’s a question that should be directed to ABP,” she said. “I was absolutely shocked. My hands and feet went cold. I started crying. I broke down and cried out loud.”She reiterated that she has no connection whatsoever to the location where the police raid was shown.Neha said that her husband stood by her side during this challenging time and encouraged her to speak out against it. She emphasised that if her family and husband hadn’t been so understanding and supportive, her circumstances could have become even more difficult.What has ABP News said?After Neha brought the matter to public attention on social media, ABP News issued a formal public apology. In their statement, the channel said, “A news report concerning folk singer Neha Singh Rathore was broadcast on the digital platform of ABP Network, which was found to be factually incorrect. We regret this erroneous broadcast and apologize for it.”In this statement, the channel admitted that the news report was factually incorrect and expressed regret. However, the available statement did not clarify at which level the news was prepared, why Neha Singh Rathore’s name and photograph were included in it, who verified the facts before airing the news and who was held accountable for the error.She said that merely apologising is not enough and wants this entire matter to be investigated.She also shared a post on social media tagging Union information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw questioning how any news channel had the right to broadcast false information about a woman and humiliate her.She also raised concerns on the role of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, questioning whether the ministry has any control over the news channels. She expressed her frustration over the silence of the people involved in this matter.Jan Sanskriti Manch demands actionIn response to this matter, the Jan Sanskriti Manch (JSM), has also released a statement strongly condemning ABP News. The organisation has accused the channel of broadcasting false and defamatory news that damaged the public image of Neha Singh Rathore.The group has called for a fair and impartial investigation into the matter, demanding accountability from those responsible for broadcasting the news and strict legal action against anyone found guilty. The organisation has also requested that the channel be taken off air for the time being. It has also appealed to the public to boycott ABP News.In its statement, JSM too echoed Rathore’s words that a public apology was not enough in this case. The organisation connected this issue to a broader pattern of maligning dissenting voices and questioned the role played by certain segments of mainstream media in delegitimising those who challenge those in power.JSM said that the dignity and freedom of expression of the folk singer should be protected and they stand with her in her fight for justice.Whose responsibility?While ABP News has apologised, acknowledging that the report was factually inaccurate, it did not clarify several important questions: On what basis were Rathore’s name and photograph used in the story? Did anyone verify the connection between the location shown in the video and Neha? Was she contacted before the report was published? And if the story was factually incorrect, who bears the responsibility for broadcasting it?Rathore said that she is looking for answers to these questions. The Wire reached out to Rajnish Ahuja, Executive Vice President of ABP Network through WhatsApp. This report will be updated upon getting a response.This article was originally published in The Wire Hindi. It has been translated to English by Naushin Rehman.