On April 10, @IndiaToday aired an investigation where it stung caretakers of three NCR madrasas - two in Madanpur Khadar, one in Greater Noida.

Their theory: Madrasas deliberately kept students on campus to violate lockdown guidelines, and that the caretakers had links with TJ.

I spoke with the three men stung by India Today and Delhi Police to ascertain the facts.

India Today left out details central to its ‘investigation’, instead presenting a report that misleads rather than informs.

My report: https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/04/15/anatomy-of-an-investigation-how-india-todays-madrasa-sting-misled-its-viewers

Students from at least two of the stung madrasas were from Bihar and couldn’t go back home, with the lockdown. In fact, some students had tickets booked to go back to Bihar on April 11.

Details India Today’s investigation conveniently left out.

Best part? Same day IndiaTV featured the Noida madrasa & its caretaker. It showed how students (who are from Bihar), are setting a social distancing example.

For all the self-praise, India Today could have just watched that to not mislead its viewers https://bit.ly/3ciQQrT 

Every sting warrants imp questions:

Is story of such public interest that it can be told through sting only? Is the subject so powerful that the sting is the only way to expose them?

India Today’s investigation clearly saw the madrasas and its students powerful enough.