Lucknow court orders filing of complaint against ANI editor Smita Prakash

A Lucknow court has ordered the filing of a complaint against Smita Prakash, editor of the news agency ANI. The complaint was filed by former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur, alleging that ANI broadcast misleading and untrue news in the name of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Conducting a preliminary hearing in the case, the court stated that the complaint was found to be procedurally correct. It ordered that it be filed as a duly filed complaint and directed Thakur to appear on September 26, 2025, to record her sworn statement.

In his petition, Amitabh Thakur alleged that ANI published several news stories in August 2025 that claimed to be published in the name of the Election Commission, but lacked any official confirmation. He specifically cited a post dated August 1, 2025, which purported to be from the Election Commission of India (ECI) in response to Rahul Gandhi’s vote-stealing allegations.

Thakur stated that these statements were not on the Election Commission’s official website, social media, or confirmed in any press release. He stated that such news, disseminated solely through ANI without any official source, is seriously misleading and could damage the Election Commission’s credibility.

He also stated that he could have approached the police, but feared that a fair investigation would be precluded due to political or other influences. Therefore, he directly approached the court.

The complaint demands that legal action be initiated against Smita Prakash for her alleged criminal acts.