Hyderabad: Journalist associations and two international newspapers from the Gulf Khaleej Times of Dubai and Gulf Times, Doha, Qatar carried reports about ToI lifting classified ads from DC.
In its report titled “Deccan Chronicle hauls ToI to court over theft of ads”, The Khaleej Times said: “The serious charge has been levelled by Deccan Chronicle , a leading English daily in South India, against The Times of India, claimed to be the market leader, in a complaint filed before a court in Hyderabad.”
“The court has directed the police to investigate the charges coming under Sections 120B, 379 and 469 of the Indian Penal Code .
The Hyderabad police has registered a first information report and began the investigations, according to a senior DC official,” Khaleej Times reported.
Stating that “a turf war between DC and ToI, two of India’s top English dailies, has taken a curious turn”, Gulf Times told its readers that the court had ordered a probe into DC’s allegations that ToI had been “stealing its classified ads to fill its columns and attract advertisers and readers.”
It also noted the statement by the Indian Journalists Union, which had criticised ToI.
The IJU had stated: “It was not surprising that the newspaper management which started the concept of “paid news” and “private treaties” by unethically mortgaging the news columns to the publicists to garner money, stooped to a new low.”
Gulf Times also reported: “Deccan Chronicle alleges that ToI, which claims to be the largest broadsheet in the world, “publishes paid news, but ads are free”.”
The.hoot.org, run by the Media Foundation, a body of eminent journalists, reported, “DC has taken ToI to court a systemic theft of classified ads from its pages” for its Gulf Times noted: "This must be the most perverted case in the history of India's print journalism."
Thehoot.org reported: "The Deccan Chronicle has taken The Times of India to court for a systemic theft of classified ads from its pages.
On December 5 it published a report where it said it will publish "in a series, ad after ad that appeared in the ToI a few days after they appeared in Deccan Chronicle complete with DC's name, CA codes and box numbers which are unique to the newspaper and to each person who advertises in DC's classifieds section!" DC's report also published copies of letters from its readers complaining about the publication of their classified advertisements in ToI without their consent.
Thehoot.org is run by the Media Foundation, a body of eminent journalists. Its chairman is B.G. Verghese, Magsaysay Award winner, former member of the National Broadcasting Corporation of India and a former editor.
It’s shocking
It is an open secret that The Times of India has been doing unethical things to get the better of competitors, but I never imagined that they would steal DC’s classifieds. This is a criminal act. I request the police to do a thorough probe and make the ToI pay a heavy price.
Lalhmunsiama Chhangte, Hyderabad
Great, really great ToI! In Sanskrit there is a saying: Enakena prakarena prasiddha purushobhava. Roughly translated, it means ‘Be famous by hook or crook’. Slightly modified: Enakena prakarena prasiddha patriko bhava. That is, be a famous newspaper by hook or crook.
Savitri
What the ToI did is shameful. I hope they are taught a lesson. They should apologise and it should be published on the front page.
Padma
Since it has been proved that the ToI had committed theft, the courts should force it to stop printing for at least a week as punishment.
A. Seshagiri Rao, Chennai
It’s shocking that ToI had been pillaging the classified ads of DC. It’s an indelible slur on journalism. I hope ToI would come forward to seek pardon from DC.
Vangapandu Sekhar
Veeravasaram,
West Godavari
The Times of India’s act of stealing DC’s classified ads is shocking. This reminds me of my ads published in DC. I saw my ad in the ToI, though I had not placed it there. This confirms the increasing circulation of our DC vis a vis ToI.
Katuru Durga Prasad Rao
Rajahmundry
It looks like the ToI doesn’t know the difference between ‘follow the leader’ and ‘makhi to makhi’ copy. We are proud of DC as it provides us honest news.
Irfan
Hyderabad
While reporting the criminal act of ToI, DC maintained its dignity by referring to the ToI as ‘the leading paper of India.’ While publishing the news of the filing of a criminal complaint against ToI by DCHL and the direction of the court for investigation DC did not use any offensive language. No wonder DC has carved out a niche for itself.
S. Tamilcholai
Guntur
ToI’s action regarding the classifieds issue is ridiculous. ToI, which boasts of so many feats, has stooped against DC. ToI has set a very bad example and its management should come out with an apology immediately.
S. Venugopalan
Chennai
As an avid reader of DC for the past three decades it was really shocking to know that ToI, the so called world’s largest circulated English daily, has stooped to the level of plundering classified ads. The evidence produced by DC is ample proof of the crime.
Natesan Raamamoorthy
Arcot
As a regular reader of DC, I felt embarrassed at the report about another newspaper’s infringement on journalistic ethics. DC’s timely discovery has acted as a boomerang. Unethical practices and stealing advertisements stolen from other papers make readers uncomfortable.
Dr M. Vathapureeswaran
Erode
It is astonishing to note that ToI stole classified advertisements from DC. I am happy that the court has recognised this as a cognisable offense and ordered investigation.
Dammalapati Shyamprasad
Guntur
Tweet: Manoj â @manojsirsa
#ToIstealsfromDC: ‘TOI has been caught en flagrante stealing classified ads from @DeccanChronicle to pad up its acceptability
Raghunath A.S. @asraghunath
Unique innovation! Again from ToI. Plagiarising ads from Deccan Chronicle to pad up acceptability in Hyderabad!
Facebook post: Stop sabotaging! For now, have some shame and refine your staff. We are fed up of everyone, right from your your HR ladies who are inexperienced and have no idea about journalism, your sub-editors who publish the obituary of a living man and your reporters who are obsessed with defaming celebrities. ToI, accept defeat. Achhe din janewale hain! — Deblina
After the RIP Sachin Tendulkar goof-up this is what ToI has to offer! — Sukarna Mondal
What a bunch of idiots — Anisha Dutta
The Hindu could not get to the No. 1 slot till today in Hyderabad. Surprisingly, ToI is putting up such strategies to get to the No. 1 spot. — Selvan D.C.
Classified advertisements published in Deccan Chronicle and The copies in Times of india
