Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
The Congress party, on Tuesday, May 20, filed a criminal case complaint against Republic TV news anchor Arnab Goswami and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT cell chief Amit Malviya for allegedly spreading misinformation that the Congress party has a registered office in Turkey.
The case was filed at High Grounds police station in Bengaluru. According to the complaint, a news report by the Republic Network “falsely” projected the Istanbul Congress Centre at Turkey as Congress’ office.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “This malicious attempt to malign [Indian National Congress], provoke unrest, and undermine national security is a direct attack on democracy. We will not stay silent. Let this be a clear message: Any attempt to spread fake news against our party or its leadership will be met with firm legal and political response.”
On May 15, Arnab Goswami on his show ‘Debate with Arnab’ on Republic TV allegedly showed visuals of a Istanbul Congress Center building, which is reportedly a convention centre, and claimed that the building belonged to the Congress party. This particular part seems to have been removed from the video now available on YouTube.
In his debate, Arnab accused the Congress party of siding with the “enemy” Turkey.
“What kind of business does your party have in Turkey?”He told the viewers, “Did you know, the viewers, that the Congress party has a registered office in Turkey. That in 2019 Rahul Gandhi said that ‘we must have a big office in Turkey.’”
He claimed that a man called Mohammed Yousuf Khan was appointed to “lead the operations” of the Congress party in Istanbul, Turkey.
The clipping of this debate was shared by Amit Malviya on X account saying, “Did you know that the Congress Party has a registered office in Turkey? Can Rahul Gandhi explain what necessitated this move? This is bizarre and inexplicable on multiple levels. India deserves to know. Remember: the enemy’s friend is an enemy too.”
Arnab continued the attack against the Congress accusing it of being “Pro-Pakistan” on his show on May 19. He reiterated that the Congress party has a registered office in Turkey.
Republic issued a corrigendum saying that an "incorrect image was inadvertently used erroneously depicting a building as the Congress office in Turkey by a video editor on the Digital desk due to a technical error. The image had no connection to the content or context of the said video. This clip was not broadcast on Arnab Goswami's Debate show on 15th May 2025 or thereafter and was not taken on-air nor was the said erroneous image in any way related to the subject matter being discussed. The inadvertent error occurred after the live show ended and was carried on the digital platform. The moment it was brought to our attention, it was promptly rectified. We sincerely and unconditionally regret the error."