STING OPERATIONS IN INDIA

A sting operation is one of the most used tools in investigative journalism. Many of the public servants, media houses, corrupt people, and the act of corruption are caught in sting operations and the reality came to light. The main question that arises in the case of a sting operation is the right to privacy of any individual. Media houses claim that the sting is done just for trust and justice. According to them, it's the only way the defaulters can be caught red-handed. Media also claim that in many situations such as corruption, cash for votes, etc it's justified to carry out these types of operations.

There have been successful sting operations where the truth was revealed in front of the people. But there were cases of some fake sting too. cases like the Delhi School Teacher case where a sting operation falsely framed a teacher for exploiting and harassing students. Cases such as these victimize the innocent and leave them traumatized for life. The poor teacher had to face the mob before it was uncovered that the report was false.

We all know that Power comes with responsibility too. it is very important to for the media to identify the limit on the privacy of any individual. It's even important for the judiciary to step in on the matter of sting operation in a manner that both Right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1) (a) and the right to privacy under Article 21 don't collide. Pierce Brosnan starred, 'Tomorrow never dies? We don't have a suave Mr. Bond to save the world from media conspiracies… Hope lies only in rational thought and acting without violating our ethical codes of conduct. I believe in Captain Planet, "THE POWER IS YOURS"!!!

OPERATION WEST END

Operation west end was a sting operation conducted by the new website Tehelka in 2000-2001 which brought corruption in the defense procurement public which created problems for the government at that time. The sting operation revealed that several defense officials including some politicians were ready to accept cash and gifts. The Tehelka reporters posed as arms dealers who were selling the fourth-generation thermal handheld cameras on behalf of a British company. They presented themself as a London-based arm manufacturing company named west end international. From the Defence Ministry, Senior Section Officer P. Sashi to Brigadier Anil Sehgal, Deputy Director in Directorate General of Ordnance and Supply (DGOS) all were demanding a good amount from the company for being a part of the deal. Brigadier Sehgal also said that the company would have to pay everyone including the then defense minister. Politicians such as BJP chief Bangaru Laxman. George Fernandes party president Jaya Jaitly had to resign after the sting was made public. The CBI had filed a charge sheet against Jaitly, Pacherwal, and Murgai in 2006, charging them with criminal conspiracy and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Cobrapost operation 136

Cobrapost operation 136 was a sting operation done on the media houses in India. The sting was done on 36 media houses which were Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, DNA, Punjab Kesari, ScoopWhoop, India TV, Rediff, and UNI, Times of India, India Today, Hindustan Times, Zee News, Network 18, Star India, ABP News, Dainik Jagran, Radio One, Red FM, Lokmat, ABN AndhraJyothy, TV5, Dinamalar, Big FM, K News, India Voice, The New Indian Express, MVTV and Open magazine.

The main motto of the operation was to check whether the news media are ready to run Hindutva-related news on different platforms. The undercover journalists of cobra post did this string and the reality of the paid news and mainstream media was out. The journalist named Pushp Sharma went to the media houses as a member of the Hindutva organization. He asked them to publish or broadcast news related to and in favor of the specific political party and publish news against the opposition party in exchange for a large amount of money. The shocking part of the whole operation was that all the 36 media houses agreed to publish anything if they are paid to do so.

This operation was able to bring the true colour of the Indian media in front of the people and establish the fact that the media can publish anything whether it's true or not without one thinking of it just for money.49 videos were released by coberpost in which Pushp who changed his to “ Acharya Atal'' was talking to top-level mainstream media personalities. He pretended that he is linked with RSS and BJP and he wanted to spread Hindutva and spread propaganda against the opposition which was Congress, BSP, and SP. He also mentioned the fact that all of this should be done by keeping in mind the poll of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

Almost all the top mainstream media houses agreed to the offer in exchange for a good amount in crores. Only two publications rejected the offer by the reporterBartaman Patrika and Dainik Sambad.

One of the big names that agreed to this was Times Group Managing Director Vineet Jain and executive president of Times Group, Sanjeev Shah. The duo agreed on the content that they had to publish. Moreover, they were even suggestions on how the money can be given to them. They didn't agree to deal in cash and mention the name of some of the big businessmen whom the cobrapost can give cash and they will give the cheque to Vineet and Sanjeev.

Not only in north India large media groups in the south also agreed to spread hindutva in exchange for money. Alex George, the Network sales head of Tamil and Malayalam mentioned that he is a die heart fan of the Bhagwat Gita and introduced Pushp to the Chief GM of Dinakaran, B Rajesh Kannan who was a big fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They were even coming up with the idea how the electorate can be polarised before the Lok Sabha Election 2019.