The Returning Officer of Karnal Lok Sabha constituency today issued a show cause notice to Editor of Delhi edition of Hindi daily 'Punjab Kesri' Ashwini Kumar, who is also a BJP nominee from Karnal for "advertorial and surrogate" news items in his newspaper.
The RO said in his notice that it had been brought to the notice of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) that "there have been instances that the news items being published in the newspaper 'Punjab Kesri' published from New Delhi are clear-cut cases of paid news."
"Although the newspaper is carrying on with its agenda of highlighting and supporting only your candidature since the day you were nominated as a contesting candidate by the BJP... the news items are politically advertorial and surrogate in nature thereby misleading the general public affecting and influencing the behavior of voters and field benefit for a particular candidate," the notice said.
In another notice, the RO has charged the daily with indulging in unethical journalism and corrupt practices leading to the case of paid news."
Replies to the show cause notice have been sought within 48 hours.
