In November 2013, a Media Sarkar sting operation aired allegedly showing several leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party agreeing to assist in land deals and other financial arrangements in return for cash donations.[6] The party responded by calling the footage fabricated, a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and threatening to sue Media Sarkar and any TV channels that aired the video.[7] Chaurasia was thereafter sued for defamation by the party national secretary, who alleged that the sting operation was faked to harm the party's reputation.[8]
In August 2013, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee filed charges against India News for repeatedly airing an interview with a spokesman for Asaram Bapu which allegedly contained factually incorrect statements about a series of sexual assault allegations against him.[9] In December 2013, criminal charges were also brought against Chaurasia alleging that he had personally tampered with documents related to the sexual assault allegations.[10][11] In January 2014, the Allahabad high court stayed his arrest following his response that the broadcast was "bona fide" and nothing was tampered with.[10][11]
Chaurasia was seen slurring his words and making several verbal slips while anchoring a live show about the death of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash. Chaurasia mistakenly described the general as a “journalist”, and at one point referred to him as “General V.P. Singh”. Chaurasia faced wide-ranging criticism on social media for his on-air demeanor and was accused of being drunk while on air.[12] He later issued a statement on Facebook denying that he was inebriated during the show. He claimed that he was suffering side-effects after having consumed a large quantity of painkillers to alleviate pain from a hairline fracture in his leg.[13]
