Rajdeep Sardesai: The ‘Mafiveer’ Menace Undermining Indian Journalism

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Rajdeep Sardesai, a name synonymous with prime-time sensationalism, has cemented his infamy as the “Mafiveer” of Indian journalism—a derisive label born on X, blending “mafia” with the tragic bravado of Mahabharata’s Abhimanyu. Far from a badge of honor, it marks Sardesai as a reckless purveyor of fake news, a repeat offender whose apologies are as hollow as his reporting. Anchoring India Today’s 9 PM slot, he peddles narratives that collapse under scrutiny, eroding the very foundation of journalistic integrity.

The latest in his saga of shame came on October 13, 2025, when Sardesai issued a groveling apology for a 2011 IBN7 sting, “Dilli’s Double Agents,” with Cobrapost. It falsely accused BJP councillor Ajit Singh Tokas of soliciting bribes, a smear that fueled anti-BJP hysteria. Dragged to court for 14 years, Sardesai distanced himself, claiming he merely parroted an “external agency’s” findings—later debunked by third-party probes. His affidavit’s weak “regret” for Tokas’s distress is a masterclass in dodging accountability, a hallmark of his career.

This isn’t an outlier. In 2020, Sardesai apologized to IPS officer Rajiv Trivedi for a 2007 CNN-IBN report falsely tying him to the Sohrabuddin encounter case, fabricating details about fake number plates. A Hyderabad court let him off after his grovel. In 2021, he inflamed tensions by claiming police shot a farmer dead during Delhi’s tractor rally—a lie exposed as an accident, costing him two weeks off-air and a month’s salary at India Today. From misidentifying BHU’s Vice-Chancellor at a Modi rally to falsely announcing Pranab Mukherjee’s death in 2017, his errors consistently target BJP figures, revealing a blatant agenda.

Sardesai’s reign at India Today’s prime time, despite this rap sheet, is a damning indictment of the channel’s standards. X users like

@RameshwarAryaji
brand him a “habitual mafiveer,” while
@Mati9ee

dubbed him a “joker” over debunked Rameshwaram Cafe blast claims. His pattern—sensationalize, smear, apologize—makes a mockery of journalism’s pursuit of truth. By prioritizing TRPs over facts, Sardesai isn’t just a flawed journalist; he’s the enemy of the profession, turning newsrooms into propaganda mills.

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