Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) has said that Raajje TV violated article 37 of the Broadcasting Act when it aired the news that claimed that Galolhu-south MP Ahmed Mahloof hit a pregnant woman.

MBC said this after investigating the truth behind Raajje TV’s claim, after it showed a video of Mahloof waving his hand at a person after an exchange of words between him and a group of people on a motorbike on the night of 18 August 2012, that Mahloof hit a pregnant woman.

After investigation of the case filed by Mahloof in this regard, MBC said in a letter sent to Mahloof that Raajje TV violated article 37 (a) of the Broadcasting Act when it aired this claim in the news. Article 37 (a) refers to the code of practice to be followed by journalists and broadcasters.

Mahloof shared the contents of the letter with Sun Online and said that Raajje TV had been notified to refrain from repeating the act of spreading news in violation of the Broadcasting Act.

Mahloof however also expressed discontent with regard to MBC’s decision. He said that his reputation was adversely affected by the claim that he hit a pregnant woman, and that it subjected him to anger from several groups. He said that Raajje TV should apologise for this damage.

“I would like to say that I am not satisfied with this decision. My reputation has been damaged because of this and several people have targeted their anger at me. I believe that Raajje TV should apologise to me for this,” he said.

Meanwhile, MBC asked Raajje TV to apologise for spreading a lie claiming that the police stole petrol from a motorcycle. Raajje TV complied and apologised to the police.

MBC has said that Raajje TV broadcasts content not suitable for the society’s behavioural standards under MDP’s ‘Direct Action’ political activities, and advised the station to refrain from broadcasting such content.