NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Supreme Court Of India
    Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI)
    Indian Army
    Indian Railways
    Indian Air Force
    NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / India News / Cobrapost's 'shoddy' sting on Paytm: Pertinent questions remain unanswered
    India

    Cobrapost's 'shoddy' sting on Paytm: Pertinent questions remain unanswered

    Cobrapost's 'shoddy' sting on Paytm: Pertinent questions remain unanswered
    Written by NewsBytes Desk
    May 26, 2018, 02:22 pm 4 min read
    Cobrapost's 'shoddy' sting on Paytm: Pertinent questions remain unanswered

    Cobrapost, arguably the king of sting operations in India, is back with another in its Operation-136 series, which reveals media houses' willingness to peddle content (mostly 'Hindutva'-related) for money. But today, we address another matter: the part in which they conduct a similar sting on Paytm. Consequently, #UninstallPaytm is trending as much as #MediaOnSale. But how reliable is this Cobrapost sting, really?

    About Cobrapost's 'Operation-136'

    For those who don't know, 'Operation-136' (named after India's ranking in the 2017 world press freedom index) has targeted big names in the industry. Part-I covered ScoopWhoop, DNA, Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, India TV and Rediff, among others. In part-II, stings have been conducted on other top players including Times of India, Hindustan Times, India Today, Network 18, Red FM, Big FM and Open Magazine.

    Coming to the Paytm sting

    In the Paytm sting, Cobrapost journalist Pushp Sharma meets Paytm-VP Sudhanshu Gupta as a 'Shrimad Bhagwad Gita Prachar Samiti' promoter, and proposes a deal for promoting Hindutva. Sudhanshu shows how they're doing the same for PM Modi's book 'Exam Warriors.' He adds they can make quizzes to promote Pushp's agenda. Another meeting with Senior-VP Ajay Shekhar Sharma, brother of founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, follows.

    The details that have set the internet on fire

    During the meeting, Ajay boasts about his association with RSS and top ministers, including Narendra Singh Tomar, Arun Kumar and Shivraj Chouhan. But he expresses surprise that no one from the RSS has talked to him directly about the agenda Pushp was citing, and refuses to commit without talking to 'sources.' "RSS has made us do things I can't even reveal," he vaguely mentions.

    The 'ultimate' revelation

    The 'ultimate' revelation comes when Ajay mentions stone-pelting in Kashmir. "Remember when stone-pelting stopped in Kashmir? The PMO called me personally and asked for data, they said maybe some of them are Paytm users, do you understand?"

    Cobrapost's claims are far from what the sting actually reveals

    Cobrapost calls the sting "shocking" since "top honchos...boast of their close-association with RSS." Fact: Most people have political/religious-affiliation. It's questionable only when it affects work unethically. Cobrapost adds Ajay confessed sharing data of users. Fact: In the video, Ajay only mentions they were asked for data. Cobrapost also claims Ajay supplied data to a "political party." Fact: Ajay only mentions PMO in this context.

    Cobrapost's tweet, far from truth, has netizens overreacting

    #MediaOnSale Ajay Shekhar of paytm revealed that how they provided the data of their users to a political party, on the order of PMO. pic.twitter.com/fKZPQ2LDGZ

    — Cobrapost (@cobrapost) May 25, 2018

    The sting leaves many other doubts unanswered

    Cobrapost's video is a compilation of selected quotes. Without the unedited footage, it's impossible to determine if there was misinterpretation/misquoting. The only revelation Paytm 'almost' makes is that it shared user data in violation of its privacy policy, and again, even that's not proven in this video. The pertinent question is - why did Cobra lie in its tweet? The data was asked by PMO and not a political party. And, the worrying fact is Twitterati's quick reactions!

    All said and done, Paytm should come clean

    When you and I give our information to private companies, we also put in a lot of trust into them. In a time and age when privacy has become a joke and often blatantly disregarded by these companies, Paytm should come clean if they have shared our data.

    We wish Cobrapost does well what it is known for

    If Cobrapost's claims are true, they merit an investigation: no company should be allowed to break laws without consequences. But at present, whether Paytm actually did so is far from conclusive. Cobrapost has exposed groundbreaking truths: it got rule-breaking MPs expelled, exposed money-laundering in top banks, and revealed damning details about Babri Masjid demolition. But this time, it has missed the mark by far.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Latest
    India
    Hindustan Times
    India Today
    Times of India

    Latest

    Indian Premier League: Yuzvendra Chahal could become the highest wicket-taker Indian Premier League (IPL)
    Karnataka Assembly elections 2023: Election Commission to announce schedule today Karnataka
    Improve your blood circulation with these easy yoga asanas Yoga
    Free Fire MAX March 29 codes: How to collect rewards Garena Free Fire MAX

    India

    GitHub lays off the entire engineering team in India Microsoft
    What BMW has in store for Indian buyers in 2023 BMW
    Vehicle Scrappage Policy in India: Criteria and incentives explained Government of India
    Guneet Monga was hospitalized after Oscars victory, reveals MM Keeravani Guneet Monga

    Hindustan Times

    No foreign leader as R-Day chief guest this year: Report Ram Nath Kovind
    Ahead of nationwide exercise, COVID-19 vaccine dry run in Haryana India
    Fashion designer Swapnil Shinde comes out as a transwoman Bollywood
    Toxic gas leak at SAIL's Rourkela plant kills four workers Odisha

    India Today

    Jharkhand: Cable car collision leaves one dead, several injured Jharkhand
    TV Today network sues Newslaundry for defamation seeking Rs. 2cr Delhi High Court
    Cops explore CCTV footage after Andhra couple 'sacrifices' two daughters Karnataka
    Delhi: Farmers change march route; tractors enter Red Fort Delhi Police

    Times of India

    Who is Indo-Australian spin sensation Tanveer Sangha? Cricket: News, Stats and more!
    BCCI set to conduct IPL 2021 in India Indian Premier League (IPL)
    Shakti Kapoor breaks silence on Shraddha Kapoor's wedding rumors Varun Dhawan
    Kangana says she might also direct 'Manikarnika Returns' Kangana Ranaut

    Love India News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    India Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023