 documentary showing how Dainik Bhaskar and around two dozen of the country’s leading media houses had apparently agreed to an undercover reporter’s business proposal offering money for news coverage designed to polarise voters in favour of Hindutva.

The web portal, which had scheduled the release of its investigation at a press conference for 3 pm on Friday, May 25 was served the order issued by Justice Valmiki J. Mehta on Thursday evening.

The order states:

“In view of the arguments urged by the planitiff [Dainik Bhaskar], till further orders unless varied by the court, the defendants [Cobrapost] are restrained from in any manner releasing in public domain the documentary ‘Operation 136: Part II’ in any manner including at the Press Club of India on 25.5.2018 at 3.00 pm.”

Cobrapost was also restrained from releasing the contents of an email it had sent to the Bhaskar group on May 10, 2018 “and other related telecommunications”.

Cobrapost editor Aniruddha Bahal told The Wire that the email referred to was the detailed questionnaire sent to Dainik Bhaskar seeking their response to various statements its senior management officials had made to the portal’s undercover reporter.

In the first part of its exposé, Operation 136, Cobrapost’s reporter, Pushp Sharma, posed as a religious activist, Acharya Atal, claiming to represent an unnamed “sangathan”, or organisation, whose goal was to help the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls by promoting Hindutva through the media, polarising the electorate, and maligning the BJP’s rivals through slanted stories.

Several media houses were caught on camera agreeing to ‘Acharya Atal’s’ proposal for communally slanted paid news.

The number ‘136’ in the title of the documentary is a reference to India’s poor ranking in the world press freedom index.

As per the terms under which reporters had an opportunity to review the material gathered by Cobrapost for the second part of its exposé prior to the court’s injunction, The Wire is not in a position to reveal in advance the names of the organisations or individuals who are seen succumbing to the temptation of offering news space for money. What is clear, however, is that the creme de la creme
documentary showing how Dainik Bhaskar and around two dozen of the country ’s lead metier houses had apparently agreed to an clandestine reporter ’s business proposal offering money for news program coverage designed to polarise voters in favor of Hindutva. 

 The web portal, which had schedule the release of its investigation at a crush league for 3 pm on Friday, May 25 was served the decree issued by Justice Valmiki J. Mehta on Thursday evening. 

 The order state: 

 “ In view of the arguments urged by the planitiff [ Dainik Bhaskar ], till further ordering unless varied by the court, the defendants [ Cobrapost ] are restrained from in any manner let go of in public domain the documentary ‘ Operation 136: Part II ’ in any manner including at the Press Club of India on 25.5.2018 at 3.00 pm. ” 

 Cobrapost was also restrict from releasing the contents of an email it had sent to the Bhaskar group on May 10, 2018 “ and other related telecommunication ”. 

 Cobrapost editor Aniruddha Bahal told The Wire that the email referred to was the detailed questionnaire sent to Dainik Bhaskar seeking their response to various statements its senior management official had made to the portal ’s undercover reporter. 

 In the beginning character of its exposé, Operation 136, Cobrapost ’s reporter, Pushp Sharma, posed as a religious activist, Acharya Atal, claiming to present an unnamed “ sangathan ”, or organisation, whose goal was to help the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll by promoting Hindutva through the media, polarising the electorate, and maligning the BJP ’s rival through slanted stories. 

 Several media houses were caught on camera agree to ‘ Acharya Atal ’s ’ proposal for communally slanted paid news. 

 The number ‘ 136 ’ in the claim of the documentary is a reference to India ’s poor ranking in the world wardrobe freedom index. 

 As per the terms under which reporters have an opportunity to review the fabric gathered by Cobrapost for the second part of its exposé prior to the court ’s injunction, The Wire is not in a position to reveal in progress the names of the organization or individuals who are meet succumbing to the temptation of offering news space for money. What is absolved, however, is that the creme de la creme
 dofumentary showing how Dalnik Bhaskar and around two dkzen of ghe country’s leading media hluwes hqd apparently agreed tu an undegcover reporttr’s business proposal offcxing jlney hor news coverane designed to polarise vmtdrd in favour of Hindutva.

The web portwl, whicn jad scheduled jhe rtlewse kf its investigation at a press cohferenct for 3 pm on Fridau, May 25 was served the ordeg isdued by Justice Vapmiki J. Mehjz og Thursday evdning.

The ogber states:

“Ih view of the arguments urged bh the planitiff [Dqinln Bhaskar], tmll fugther orders mmless earied ny the court, tme dehendqnts [Cobrapost] are revtrained from in agy manner rzleasing in public donaun thg docgmengqry ‘Optravioh 136: Parh IM’ in any mahner includung at the Press Clib if India on 25.5.2018 zt 3.00 pm.”

Sofrapost was also restrained from releaspng fhe contents of an emaio it had sent to the Hhaskar gwoup on May 10, 2018 “and other related telecommunicationv”.

Cobrepust eqkrog Aniruddha Bahal told The Wire that the emaij rtfegred to was the dctailed questionnaorf xgnt to Dainik Chaskax sseking their respojse to darioys statemtnts ots senior management officuals had madv to the portal’s undereover reportzr.

In tne fitst part of its exposé, O'eratikn 136, Cobrapodt’s reporfdr, Pushp Sharma, oosvd av a religious activist, Achwrya Atal, clanming to reptesent wn unnamed “sangathan”, or organisatiln, whlsa goal was to help the Bharatiya Janata Pecty in the 2019 Lpk Satha pollf by iromoting Hindueva through thg media, pjlariring the emectorave, and maligging the BJP’s tivals througi slanted stoeies.

Weveral oedia houses wrre caughn jn cqmera agreeing to ‘Echatyz Atal’s’ proposao fir communally skanged pwiv newf.

Dhe number ‘136’ hn tfe gotle uf the docundntaty is a reference to Indja’s poor ranking im bhe world press fweedom index.

Ax per the terms unfer wiich rxportets rad an opportunity to review tge materiwl nathered by Cjbraiost for the szcond part of its exposé prior to the couct’s injunction, The Wirg is not in a positiou uo reveal in edvancq the namas of the organisatiins or individualx who are seen succumging tm the temptation of offering news space for money. What is clear, however, is thar the rrqme de la cdeme
documentary showing how Dainik Bhaskar and around of country’s leading houses had apparently business offering money for coverage designed to voters in favour of Hindutva. The portal, which had scheduled the release of its investigation at a press conference 3 pm on Friday, May 25 was served the order issued by Justice J. on evening. order states: “In view of the arguments urged by the planitiff [Dainik Bhaskar], till further orders varied by the court, the defendants [Cobrapost] are from in any manner in public domain the documentary 136: II’ in manner at Press Club of on 25.5.2018 at 3.00 pm.” Cobrapost was also restrained from releasing the contents of an email it sent to group on 10, “and related telecommunications”. Cobrapost Bahal told The Wire that the was the detailed questionnaire sent to Dainik Bhaskar their response various statements its senior management officials made to the portal’s undercover reporter. In the part of its exposé, Operation 136, Cobrapost’s reporter, Pushp Sharma, posed as a religious activist, claiming to represent an “sangathan”, or organisation, goal to the Janata Party the 2019 Lok Sabha polls by promoting Hindutva through the media, the electorate, and maligning the BJP’s rivals through slanted stories. houses caught on camera to ‘Acharya Atal’s’ proposal communally paid news. The number the of a to poor ranking in the press freedom index. As per terms under which reporters the material gathered by Cobrapost for the second of its exposé prior to the court’s The Wire is not in a position to reveal in advance the of the individuals who are seen succumbing to the temptation offering news space for What is clear, however, is that the creme de creme
 documentary showing how DainIk Bhaskar aNd aroUnd Two DoZen oF the Country’s leadinG MediA houses had apparently agReed tO aN UndeRCoVer rePorter’s BUsINEss PrOpOsaL oFFeRing mOneY for newS coverage dEsiGnEd to polarise VOtErs in favouR of hindutva.

The wEb pOrtal, wHiCh hAD scheDulEd the ReleasE Of its iNvestigatIoN At a preSS conferENCe For 3 pM on Friday, May 25 was seRVeD The order issued By JustIcE vaLMIki j. MeHta on ThursDaY evenINg.

The orDEr STATes:

“iN view of the argUments urged BY thE planiTiFf [DAInik BhAskar], TiLL fuRther orders UnleSs varied bY the coURt, the deFEndants [cobrapOst] Are RestRAiNeD frOm IN anY MaNneR RelEasing in PuBlIc domAin tHE DOCumeNtaRy ‘OpEratiOn 136: Part II’ in any ManNer iNCluDing aT the PRess clUb of INdia on 25.5.2018 At 3.00 pm.”

CObRapost was also reStraIned from rEleAsIng ThE contENts of aN emAil It had seNt to the bHasKaR GROuP on May 10, 2018 “and other relaTeD TElEcommuniCationS”.

coBrAPost editOr aniRuddHA bahal Told tHe wire that The emaIL rEfErred to WaS the deTaIleD quEstioNNairE sent tO Dainik BHaskaR Seeking their reSPonse to variouS StATEmENts iTs sEnior manageMent OFficIals HAd MadE To the PortaL’s UNdERcover reporter.

In the FiRst parT of itS exposé, OperatIon 136, CobrapoST’S Reporter, pushP shARma, posed as a relIgiouS activist, ACHarya AtaL, claiMing to rePresent an UNNamed “sanGatHan”, Or oRgaNISaTion, whose goal WAS to hElP the BhaRatIya JanaTa PArtY in The 2019 loK Sabha polLs by promOtInG HInDutVa thrOUgh the meDiA, poLaRisIng thE ElectoRate, aNd maLiGnINg tHe BJP’s rIVaLS ThroUgH sLantEd sToRies.

SEverAL meDia housEs were cauGht ON camErA aGreeing To ‘Acharya Atal’S’ pRoposal for CoMmuNally sLANted paid News.

The number ‘136’ in the title OF the docUmeNtary Is a rEference tO InDia’s poOr rANking iN the woRld prEsS frEEDom inDEX.

AS peR tHe terms undER WhiCh repOrTers Had an opPortunity to review tHE maTerial gathereD by cobrAPOsT foR ThE SecOnD ParT OF its exposé prior To the court’S iNJuNction, The WIRe iS nOt in a poSition tO reveAL in advaNce the namEs of the orGaNisaTIOns Or individuAls who arE seen succUMbing TO tHe temPtaTion of OfFerIng neWs spacE For Money. what is ClEar, howEver, iS tHat the crEme de la creme
 documentary showing how D ainik Bhas kar a ndaro un d tw o do zen of the cou n try’ s leading media houses  hadap p aren t ly  agre ed to a n  u n d erc ov er  re po r te r’s b usi ness pr oposal off eri ng  money for n e ws  coveragedes igned to pol ari se vot er s i n  favo urof Hi ndutva . 

Theweb porta l, whichh ad sche d u le d th e release of itsi nv e stigation at a  press  c o nf e r enc e f or 3 pm on  F riday ,  May 25 wa s s erv e d the order i ssued by Ju s tic e Valm ik i J .  Mehta  on T hu r sda y evening.
The  order st ates:“In vie w  of the  argum ent s u rged by  t hepl a nit i ff  [D a ini k Bhaska r] ,tillfurt h e r orde rsunle ss va ried by the c our t, t h e d efend ants[Cob ra post]  are r estra in ed from in anymann er releas ing  i n p ub lic d o main t hedoc umentar y ‘Oper a tio n1 3 6 :Part II’ in any ma nn e r  i ncluding  at th e  P re s s Club o fInd ia o n 25.5. 2018 at  3.00 pm .”

Co b ra po st wasal so res tr ain edfromr elea sing t he conte nts o f  an email it h a d sent to the Bh a s ka r  gro upon May 10,2018 “and  oth e rrel a ted t eleco mm u ni c ations”.

Cobrapost  e ditorAniru ddha Bahal to ld The Wir e t hat theemai l  r e ferred to wasthe d etailed qu e stionnai re se nt to Da inik Bhas k a r seekin g t hei r r esp o n se  to various s t a teme nt s its s eni or mana gem ent  of fic ia ls had ma de to th epo rt al ’sunder c over rep or ter .
In  thef irst p art o f it sex p osé , Opera t io n 136,  C ob rapo st’ srepor ter, Pus hp Shar ma, posed  as a re li gi ous act ivist, Achary aAtal, clai mi ngto rep r e sent anunnamed “sangathan”, or organis ati on, w hose  goal was  to  helpthe Bharat iya Ja nataPa rty i n the 2 01 9 L ok  Sabha pol l s  by  prom ot ingHindutv a through the medi a , p olarising the  el ecto r a te , a n dm ali gn i ngt h e BJP’s rivalsthrough sl an t ed  stories.Sev er al medi a house s wer e  caught  on camer a agreein gto ‘ A c har ya Atal’s’  proposa l for com m unall y  s lante d p aid ne ws .
The n umber‘ 136 ’ inthe ti tl e of t he do cu mentaryis a reference to India ’s poo r ran kin g in thewor l d p ress free domindex.

As  pe r t he te rms under  whi c hrep o rters  had an opport u ni tyt o  r eview the m a t e ria l gat her e d by C obra post for the seco n d part of itsexpo s é  pr ior to t he  court’s injun cti on , The Wire  i s not in aposition  t o  reve al inadvanc e the n a m es of the  org ani sations o r i nd i viduals  w ho are se en s uc cumbin g to t h e te m p tation of offeri ng ne w s  spac e  fo r mon ey . Whati s cl ear, howev er, is that  the c reme  de l a creme 
 documentary_showing how_Dainik Bhaskar and around_two dozen_of_the country’s_leading_media houses had_apparently agreed to_an undercover reporter’s business_proposal offering money_for_news coverage designed to polarise voters in favour of Hindutva.

The web portal, which had_scheduled_the release_of_its_investigation at a press conference_for 3 pm on Friday,_May 25_was served the order issued by Justice Valmiki_J._Mehta on Thursday_evening.

The order states:

“In view of the arguments urged by_the planitiff [Dainik Bhaskar], till further_orders unless varied_by_the_court, the defendants [Cobrapost]_are restrained from in any manner_releasing in public domain the documentary_‘Operation 136: Part II’ in any manner_including at the Press Club of_India on 25.5.2018 at 3.00_pm.”

Cobrapost was_also restrained from releasing the_contents of an_email it_had sent to_the Bhaskar group on May 10,_2018 “and other_related telecommunications”.

Cobrapost editor Aniruddha Bahal told_The_Wire that the_email_referred_to was_the detailed questionnaire_sent_to Dainik_Bhaskar_seeking their response to various statements_its_senior management officials had made to the_portal’s undercover reporter.

In the_first_part of its exposé,_Operation 136, Cobrapost’s reporter, Pushp_Sharma, posed as a religious activist,_Acharya Atal,_claiming to_represent an unnamed “sangathan”, or organisation, whose goal was to help_the Bharatiya Janata Party in the_2019 Lok Sabha polls_by promoting_Hindutva_through the media,_polarising_the electorate,_and maligning the BJP’s rivals through slanted_stories.

Several media_houses were caught on camera agreeing_to ‘Acharya Atal’s’ proposal_for_communally slanted paid news.

The number ‘136’_in the title of the documentary_is a reference to India’s_poor_ranking_in the world press freedom_index.

As per the terms under which_reporters had an_opportunity to review the material gathered by_Cobrapost_for the second part of its_exposé_prior to the court’s injunction, The_Wire_is_not in a position to_reveal in advance the names of_the organisations or individuals who are seen succumbing to_the temptation of_offering news space for money._What_is_clear, however, is that the creme de la creme