The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has fined Zee News ₹2 lakh over its coverage of a student protest at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in August 2025. The action followed a complaint filed by AMU student Talha Mannan over Zee News programmes broadcast on August 16, 2025, which covered a student protest and expressions of solidarity with Palestine, FoEJ Media has learnt.
“The content has been ordered to be removed from all places where it is currently available,” SIO President, Abdul Hafeez told FoEJ Media.
“A protest was held over the issue of a fee hike, in which our National Secretary, Talha Mannan, participated and raised his voice against the increase in fees. Following the protest, he also spoke out in support of Palestine,” he added.
“Zee News misrepresented the matter, defamed him, and advocated criminal action against him,” he said.
The NBDSA examined the broadcasts and submissions made by both sides before concluding that the coverage did not remain limited to reporting on the protest. Apart from imposing the fine, the NBDSA has directed Zee News to remove the disputed footage from its website, YouTube, Facebook and other social media platforms within seven days.
The Students’ Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) welcomed the NBDSA’s decision, saying the order reinforced the need for responsible journalism and reporting that places events in their proper context.
“Propaganda cannot destroy the truth. Raising pro-Palestine slogans is not a crime,” SIO said.
The organisation said the expression of solidarity with Palestinians should not be turned into a matter of suspicion or criminality. It criticised what it described as attempts to sensationalise or communalise such expressions and frame them as being linked to extremism.
SIO said the order carried significance beyond the complaint filed by Mannan, arguing that dissent and political expression should not be deliberately portrayed as criminal acts.
“We welcome this decision. The media should perform its role responsibly and should not assume the role of judge itself,”SIO President said.
