Srinagar, November 11:
Headlines Today has initiated legal proceedings after a fake and fabricated news article surfaced on social media platforms, fraudulently using the newspaper’s name, logo, and design to circulate defamatory material.
According to the management, an unauthorized and forged version of the publication, carrying the Headlines Today masthead, was shared across various messaging apps. The fake edition included a fabricated byline, attributed to one “Sandeep Raina – Pulwama, 11 November 2025,” and carried false allegations against a Power Development Department (PDD) official, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Malla.
In an official statement, the Editor-in-Chief’s Office clarified that no such report has ever been published, verified, or approved by its editorial team. The management has described the viral article as a “criminal act of impersonation, forgery, and defamation,” aimed at misleading readers and damaging professional reputations.
> “The so-called article is a complete fabrication — from byline to layout. It is a mischievous attempt by unknown elements to malign both the credibility of Headlines Today and the reputation of a government officer,” the statement said.
The organization further confirmed that no journalist named Sandeep Raina has ever been affiliated with Headlines Today or its sister publication, Business Kashmir. The fake story’s claims — including alleged transfer violations, corruption linked to a 33kV line diversion at Lassipora, and unverified financial figures — were described as entirely baseless, concocted, and malicious.
The Legal Cell of the newspaper has been instructed to file a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), covering offenses such as identity theft, forgery, criminal impersonation, and defamation.
> “We sternly warn these unknown miscreants to prepare for strict legal repercussions. Headlines Today will pursue every available remedy to ensure that those behind this digital forgery face justice,” the Editor-in-Chief asserted.
Reaffirming its long-standing commitment to ethical, responsible, and verified journalism, Headlines Today urged readers, public officials, and media peers to cross-check all content attributed to the newspaper through its official channels only.
The publication has also appealed to law enforcement agencies to trace and prosecute the individuals or groups responsible for this deliberate attempt to undermine public trust and spread misinformation.
> “We will not allow anyone to misuse the name or integrity of Headlines Today for personal or political gain,” the statement concluded.
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