on live TV, or the time one presenter tried to recreate Sridevi’s bathtub incident in his studio with snazzy graphics.But sensationalism continues to make us cringe. In a new low for India media, Aaj Tak aired a show titled “Sushant par Rhea ka kaala jaadu”. Anchor Anjana Om Kashyap started the segment by saying she would “reveal” the truth with her scoop on what Rajput’s sister Mitu Singh said in her statement to the police.
“Sushant’s sister has accused Rhea of doing jaadu on her brother. Going by the family’s statements, if we analyse Rhea’s role, it reveals that she only came to Sushant’s life for money and career in the film industry,” Kashyap said.
The anchor’s shocking claim attracted fury on social media, with many pointing out that this was not only shameful but also potentially criminal, attracting sections of the Anti- Superstition & Black Magic Act of Maharashtra, 2013. As per the Act, practising black magic as well accusing someone of black magic, tantamounts to propagating superstition and is a crime.
Many pointed out how this is a reflection on the abject state of journalism in the country. While the police are still investigating the case, some news channels are quite openly insinuating and accusing Rajput’s girlfriend Chakraborty of having played some part in his death. “We might as well turn our studios into courtrooms where we prosecute without evidence!” journalist Rajdeep Sardesai posted on Twitter.
Some expressed concern about how this would affect Chakraborty, who has not only lost someone very close, but has to also endure this downright ugly humiliation on TV. “Taking rants of relatives and making them mainstream news screen grabs is sick,” said NDTV’s Anjilee Istwal.An unverified video of the actress is being aired on news channels and now the clip is being widely circulated on social media.Twitter is filled with hate messages for the actress, who has been receiving rape threats for more than a month now. Teary-eyed Chakraborty issued a video statement on Friday after the media’s non-stop vilification campaign against her. “I have immense faith in the court and judiciary. I believe that I will get justice, even though a lot of horrible things are being said about me in the electronic media,” she said.Journalism keeps plunging to new depths in the country, and it has become all the more apparent in the aftermath of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. Shoving mics in front of family members in their vulnerable moments, turning someone’s tragic death into a media circus by interviewing experts who speak to spirits and accusing people on TV without evidence seems to have become par for the course.
