KATHMANDU: Cooperative operator Bharat Mani Jangam has filed a complaint with the Press Council Nepal against 19 media outlets, demanding deletion of news reports related to his past arrest.
Jangam, who was arrested on charges of cooperative fraud on Poush 7 and released on Poush 9, claims that the news coverage has defamed his character. In his complaint, he states that as a 78-year-old senior citizen and anti-corruption campaigner with no criminal history, the news has unfairly raised questions about his integrity.
According to the Journalist Code of Conduct, individuals dissatisfied with published content have 35 days to request corrections or rebuttals. Although the complaint period has lapsed, the Press Council has the discretion to accept complaints beyond the deadline if justified. Jangam submitted his request nearly six months after the reports were published.
The Code also mandates that upon receiving a rebuttal, the concerned media outlet must publish it promptly in an appropriate manner. If the rebuttal is ignored or deemed unsatisfactory, the aggrieved party may file a formal complaint with the Council.
While the Code (Clause 5.8) generally prohibits deletion of previously published online content—requiring timestamps and preventing outright removal—it does provide an exception. Under Clause 7.5, if content is found to be in serious violation of the Code, authorities may correspond with media outlets to restrict its visibility for a specified period.
Jangam has asked the Press Council to issue a directive for the deletion of the articles, citing reputational harm. The case is under review.
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