State Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad on Thursday announced that he will not file a case against an English news channel which allegedly aired “fake” news about his daughter testing positive for COVID-19.
Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had on Wednesday announced to take action against Times Now for airing an erroneous news report. In a letter addressed to the Director General of Police (DGP), Mr. Deshmukh said Mr. Awhad had written to him regarding the “fake” news carried by the channel.
The Home Minister said it is prohibited to name a patient as per the law. “In addition, the victim was a woman. The person in question has tested negative, despite which fake news about her being tested positive was aired,” said the letter.
The minister has directed the DGP to take action against the reporter, anchor and the news channel for spreading fake news.
On Thursday evening, Mr. Awhad tweeted that he has decided not to file a complaint. “Thank you Anil Deshmukh ji For showing concern on news and asking to register a case which showed my daughter as corona positive, I think instead of vengeance i have decided to not register case against anybody. The channels do their job. Let people decide,” he said in the tweet.
Mr. Awhad had announced three days ago that the result of his COVID-19 test was negative, but he has decided to self-quarantine for 14 days as per protocol.
However, members in his security team have tested positive and are currently being treated. Mr. Awhad had said his family, too, was tested and his wife and daughter were found to be negative.
Published - April 16, 2020 10:14 am IST
