The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has served a show-cause notice to a private Kannada television channel for “spreading false information” through its programme titled ‘Helicopter Money’ on Wednesday.
The notice issued by PIB’s Additional Director-General M. Nagendra Swamy said the programme titled ‘Helicopter Money – Helicopternalli Surithara Modi?’ aired by Public TV at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday was “false, mischievous and clearly violates the broadcasting code and rules”. The programme speculated that money could be given free to the people.
“When the whole country is fighting COVID-19, your channel, instead of creating awareness and educating the public, [is] spreading false information, creating panic and social unrest,” said the notice addressed to Public TV’s chairman and managing director H.R. Ranganath.
The notice has asked the channel to show cause why it should not be taken off the air immediately and has given it 10 days’ time from the receipt of the notice to reply.
