Nearly five years after the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) has officially shut down the matter, giving Riya Chakraborty and his family a clean chit. The same Riya Chakraborty, who was subject to a modern-day witch hunting by media, politicians, and self-declared ‘Justice Warriors’ on social media, was constantly investigated, investigated, and self-declared on social media.
The word ‘fake news’ is often thrown around, but it has developed beyond just a discussion. Journalists Cherlin Iton and Julie Posti, in their book Journalism, fake news and disintegration: Handbook for Journalism Education and TrainingClasses fake news into three types:
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False news – False news spread unknowingly.
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Propagation – deliberately lies and propagation.
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Malicious – Informed information with a malicious agenda.
In India, we see the three playing. Take Riya’s case as an example.
Social media had already convicted Riya before the legal system could do its work. Hashtags such as #JusticeforsSR were made weapons to portray a story. BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut was now the most loud voices. An independent woman herself, she called Riya a ‘Gold Digar’.
Former journalist and now a BJP person Pradeep Bhandari played an important role in this smear campaign. Along with his former boss, he held Hound to Riya and his family, claiming ‘fight for justice’.
News anchor Navika Kumar, who once claimed to have a bag full of evidence, ‘C could not provide anyone to CBI.
