On 10 November 2025, a slow-moving Hyundai i20 exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort, killing nine people and injuring over 20 in a suspected terror attack. The blast sent shockwaves across the country and left investigators racing to find those responsible.
Since the explosion, Indian media has used the tragedy to create sensational headlines instead of showing restraint. In their race for TRPs, news outlets turned a national crisis into an OTT-style spectacle, spreading fear rather than facts.
Even as investigators continue their probe, several channels aired operational details, revealing sensitive information that could alert suspects and compromise the ongoing investigation. The need for viewership seems to have overtaken journalistic responsibility.
Veteran journalist Neelesh Mishra criticised this coverage, calling it a dangerous trend. In a social media post, he said the media now plays out investigations publicly without solid proof, turning real tragedies into media trials.
Drawing from his experiences covering the Kargil War and later terror incidents, Neelesh said today’s journalists lack the discipline and restraint that once defined responsible reporting on national security. The difference, he said, lies in ethics.
Once regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy, Indian media has become a marketplace for political narratives and commercial interests. Sensationalism and leaks now dominate the space, often replacing facts with speculation.
One such example is the unverified report on the movements of suspected terrorist Umar Mohammad, shared through IANS quoting Delhi Police sources. Such disclosures, according to Neelesh and other independent journalists, harm investigations and spread panic.
The constant pursuit of ratings has eroded public trust in mainstream media. Neelesh urged accountability, but with profit taking priority over ethics, meaningful journalism seems lost. The burden now falls on you, the viewer, to verify and fact-check before believing what you read or watch.
Why are investigations played out in public? Why must investigators give out all operational details to the media?
And why does the media not feel its responsibility to not give out critical details in a live investigation? They are jeopardising the probe!
As a journalist I have… https://t.co/WUxOqr7u9S— Neelesh Misra (@neeleshmisra) November 13, 2025
