Click to play videoNew Delhi: Ministers ready to bend the law for a price and NAFED loans being diverted for non-agricultural purposes - these were the shocking truths revealed by CNN-IBN's Special Investigation Team, and Transparency International India has recognised its efforts for exposing the systematic rot in our society.
The investigation report done by CNN-IBN SIT member Rohit Khanna in association with DIG and Jamshed Khan has received the award for bringing to light the ‘Netas for Sale’ story.
Khanna’s story exposed MLAs of a wide range of UP parties willing to take as little as Rs 5,000 for facilitating drug trade or fixing transfers.
"Transparency is the key word and as long as it's not there, there'd be scope for investigative journalism. News organisations are increasingly making space for investigative journalism," said Khanna.
The NAFED scam - where bank loans were being approved for non-agricultural purposes - was broken by CNN-IBN's Siddharta Gautam.
Gautam’s report showed how NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) diverted Rs 3,600 crore of taxpayers' money to import petroleum products and minerals.
"For any expose, you need a lot of support from your company or the news organisation. At CNN-IBN, we have a great platform in terms of the small SIT that we have. The award goes to CNN-IBN," said Gautam.
The media awards, instituted by the Oberoi group, were awarded to six journalists from print and broadcast media organisations to honour their work and commitment to exposing corruption.
They include a citation and cash prize of Rs two lakh and Rs one lakh for the first and second positions.
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