Bid to screen BBC documentary: DU panel recommends punishment for 8 students

The screening was organised on January 27 by students’ groups like the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Bhim Army Student Federation (BASF).

“The action against the other six students identified is yet to be decided,” DU Registrar Vikas Gupta said. (Representational Photo)

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The committee set up by Delhi University on January 28, in the wake of protests over the attempted screening of a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has recommended punishment for eight students.

The screening was organised on January 27 by students’ groups like the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Bhim Army Student Federation (BASF).

Delhi University Proctor Rajni Abby, who headed the committee, said: “As a committee we had given a recommendation for eight students, two for major punishment and six for minor punishment, but the final decision has been taken by the university. All of them were named in the FIR and were detained during the attempted screening and taken to the police station. Everybody’s names, addresses and college names were taken and they were called by the proctor office also.”

Also Read | BBC documentary row: 2-3 more students behind screening bid at DU identified, says varsity

Among the two students barred from all university activities for a year for allegedly participating in the attempted screening is Lokesh Chugh, a PhD scholar in the Department of Anthropology and an NSUI leader. “DU says that I have shown a banned video. This video was not blocked by the government of India, it has been blocked by the IT Ministry… I handle media for the NSUI. I was called by the media to put NSUI’s views on the BBC documentary in the same vicinity as the protest. I was not involved in the protest. I was not detained by the Delhi Police, neither is my name in the FIR,” said Chugh.

The memorandum issued to Chugh by the DU on March 10 stated, “And whereas on the basis of the recommendation of the committee, the Disciplinary Authority taking cognizance of the above indiscipline (act of participation in showing the banned BBC documentary) exhibited by Shri Lokesh Chugh decided to impose penalty of debarring him from taking part in any University or College or Departmental Examinations for one year.”

“The action against the other six students identified is yet to be decided,” DU Registrar Vikas Gupta said.

Vidheesha Kuntamalla

Vidheesha Kuntamalla is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She is known for her investigative reporting on higher education policy, international student immigration, and academic freedom on university campuses. Her work consistently connects policy decisions with lived realities, foregrounding how administrative actions, political pressure, and global shifts affect students, faculty, and institutions. Professional Profile Core Beat: Vidheesha covers education in Delhi and nationally, reporting on major public institutions including the University of Delhi (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia, the IITs, and the IIMs. She also reports extensively on private and government schools in the National Capital Region. Prior to joining The Indian Express, she worked as a freelance journalist in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for over a year, covering politics, rural issues, women-centric issues, and social justice. Specialisation: She has developed a strong niche in reporting on the Indian student diaspora, particularly the challenges faced by Indian students and H-1B holders in the United States. Her work examines how geopolitical shifts, immigration policy changes, and campus politics impact global education mobility. She has also reported widely on: * Mental health crises and student suicides at IITs * Policy responses to campus mental health * Academic freedom and institutional clampdowns at JNU, South Asian University (SAU), and Delhi University * Curriculum and syllabus changes under the National Education Policy Her recent reporting has included deeply reported human stories on policy changes during the Trump administration and their consequences for Indian students and researchers in the US. Reporting Style Vidheesha is recognised for a human-centric approach to policy reporting, combining investigative depth with intimate storytelling. Her work often highlights the anxieties of students and faculty navigating bureaucratic uncertainty, legal precarity, and institutional pressure. She regularly works with court records, internal documents, official data, and disciplinary frameworks to expose structural challenges to academic freedom. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 & 2025) 1. Express Investigation Series JNU’s fault lines move from campus to court: University fights students and faculty (November 2025) An Indian Express investigation found that since 2011, JNU has appeared in over 600 cases before the Delhi High Court, filed by the administration, faculty, staff, students, and contractual workers across the tenures of three Vice-Chancellors. JNU’s legal wars with students and faculty pile up under 3 V-Cs | Rs 30-lakh fines chill campus dissent (November 2025) The report traced how steep monetary penalties — now codified in the Chief Proctor’s Office Manual — are reshaping dissent and disciplinary action on campus. 2. International Education & Immigration ‘Free for a day. Then came ICE’: Acquitted after 43 years, Indian-origin man faces deportation — to a country he has never known (October 2025) H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear? (September 2025) Khammam to Dallas, Jhansi to Seattle — audacious journeys in pursuit of the American dream after H-1B visa fee hike (September 2025) What a proposed 15% cap on foreign admissions in the US could mean for Indian students (October 2025) Anxiety on campus after Trump says visas of pro-Palestinian protesters will be cancelled (January 2025) ‘I couldn’t believe it’: F-1 status of some Indian students restored after US reverses abrupt visa terminations (April 2025) 3. Academic Freedom & Policy Exclusive: South Asian University fires professor for ‘inciting students’ during stipend protests (September 2025) Exclusive: Ministry seeks explanation from JNU V-C for skipping Centre’s meet, views absence ‘seriously’ (July 2025) SAU rows after Noam Chomsky mentions PM Modi, Lankan scholar resigns, PhD student exits SAU A series of five stories examining shrinking academic freedom at South Asian University after global scholar Noam Chomsky referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an academic interaction, triggering administrative unease and renewed debate over political speech, surveillance, and institutional autonomy on Indian campuses. 4. Mental Health on Campuses In post-pandemic years, counselling rooms at IITs are busier than ever; IIT-wise data shows why (August 2025) Campus suicides: IIT-Delhi panel flags toxic competition, caste bias, burnout (April 2025) 5. Delhi Schools These Delhi government school grads are now success stories. Here’s what worked — and what didn’t (February 2025) ‘Ma’am… may I share something?’ Growing up online and alone, why Delhi’s teens are reaching out (December 2025) ... Read More

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