Mathew Samuel is a former managing editor of the Indian news magazine Tehelka. He is one of the members of the magazine, and as a special correspondent there, he instigated Tehelka's biggest corruption investigation, Operation West End. This sting operation led to the resignation of four senior ministers of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and nearly brought down the BJP-led national government in 2001. The top politicians and officials caught in the sting were later convicted by the court of law.
Mathew Samuel’s YouTube channel was banned in India on 9 May 2025, citing concerns over national security by National Investigation Agency due to an allegedly false report related to the Pahalgam attack during the period of national emergency[1]. His YouTube channel, which had previously been banned, was later unblocked following the 2025 Pahalgam attack controversy.
Career
Mathew Samuel was born in a Christian family in Pathanapuram, Kerala. He attended St. Stephens College Pathanapuram, was active in politics, and was the college union secretary. He worked in Delhi for Mangalam newspaper and Mid-Day for a short period. He later joined Tehelka as a staff reporter,[2] and became managing editor in 2014. He has also worked in Delhi for the publication India Today, and for television channels NewsX, Live India and India TV
After resigning from Tehelka in February 2016, Mathew Samuel founded his own digital media platform, Narada News. His reporting style drew criticism for embracing elements of sensationalism, often prioritizing provocative headlines and emotionally charged narratives over rigorous factlbased journalism.[3]
Over time, Samuel faced allegations of fabricating news content, with claims that he staged incidents and compensated individuals to portray themselves as victims in orchestrated stories.[4][5] These accusations led to legal action, and several cases related to media malpractice are currently under judicial consideration.[6]
In addition to these controversies, Samuel has been accused of leveraging his journalistic influence to pressure political figures and high-profile businesspersons[7]. Reports allege that he sought sponsorships and financial support under the threat of publishing damaging personal information, resulting in multiple complaints and public criticism regarding the ethical boundaries of his journalism.[8][9]
The sting was the brainchild of Mathew Samuel. He got the beginning of the story on a train journey in which one of his co-passengers turned out to be a supplier for Defence Canteens. The sting operation lasted for about eight months and revealed involvement of public figures in corruption. Samuel met with approximately 60 people, including arms dealers, and exposed corruption at high levels of power.[10][11][12] The public figures involved were George Fernandes (Defence Minister),[13]Bangaru Laxman (BJP president), Jaya Jaitly (president of the Samatha Party), R. K. Jain (treasurer of Samatha Party),[14] R K Sharma (treasurer of RSS), General Manjith Singh Aluvalia,[15] Major General P. S. K. Chowdhary,[16] General R. K. Murge, General Satnam Singh,[17] Brigadier Iqbal Singh,[17] Colonel Anil Saigal, H. C. Panth, P. Sasi, and Surender Kumar Surekha, a Kanpur based businessman.
On July 30,2020, Special CBI judge Virender Bhat awarded 4-year jail term to former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley, her former party colleague Gopal Pacherwal and Major General (rtd) S.P. Murgai.
There were 105 videotapes.[citation needed] Samuel alone shot 99 tapes; the rest were shot with his colleague.[11]
Mathew Samuel is also credited for conducting the Narada sting operation and publishing it in the new website. naradanews.com.
YouTube Career
Mathew Samuel launched his YouTube[18] channel on 1 February 2023, reportedly based in Canada, in an effort to circumvent ongoing legal proceedings and regulatory restrictions in India. The channel primarily focused on political commentary and investigative content but quickly became a subject of public and legal scrutiny.
The channel also drew widespread criticism for allegedly promoting Islamophobic rhetoric and publishing unverified claims against the Muslim community[19]. These accusations led to multiple legal cases being filed against him in India[20], citing incitement of communal disharmony[21].
One of the most controversial moments in his YouTube career came when he falsely claimed that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was held in empty stadiums[22]. The statement was widely debunked and condemned, given that the tournament was internationally praised for its large attendance, peaceful environment, and prohibition of alcohol and drugs, making it one of the most successful[23]World Cups in history.
Additionally, some commentators and former supporters have accused Samuel of attempting to align his content with right-wing political interests, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), allegedly to seek leniency or avoid retaliation for his past investigative journalism targeting those very groups..
Legal Issues and Arrests
Mathew Samuel has been involved in multiple legal controversies throughout his career, largely stemming from his investigative journalism and digital media activities. The following is a summary of key legal cases and proceedings:
Official Secrets Act Case (2003)
In July 2003, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against Samuel under the Official Secrets Act. He was accused of conspiring to publish classified government documents, including a secret Ministry of Home Affairs file that appeared on the Tehelka website in 2000.[24]
Narada Sting Operation FIR (2016)
On 19 June 2016, the Kolkata Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Samuel following a complaint by the wife of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) minister. He was charged under sections 469 (forgery), 500 (defamation), 505 (public mischief), 171G (false statement during election), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. The case was related to the controversial Narada sting operation.[25]
CBI Summons in Narada Case (2017)
On 20 May 2017, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summoned Samuel in connection with the Narada sting operation. The summons followed a Calcutta High Court order—later upheld by the Supreme Court—directing the CBI to investigate the 2014 sting tapes that allegedly showed TMC leaders accepting bribes.[26]
Kodanad Estate Robbery Case (2019)
On 11 January 2019, the Chennai City Police registered an FIR against Samuel and six others after a video was released linking senior Tamil Nadu politicians to the 2017 Kodanad estate robbery and murder. The Madras High Court later stayed the FIR, noting that the video did not incite religious or communal hatred.[27]
Communal Hatred Case – Erattupetta (2025)
On 19 March 2025, Kerala Police filed a case against Samuel for allegedly inciting communal hatred through a YouTube video in which he referred to Erattupetta as a "Mini Taliban." He was charged under sections related to promoting enmity between groups. The video drew widespread criticism and led to public outcry.[28]
Pre-Arrest Bail (2025)
On 8 April 2025, the Kerala High Court granted pre-arrest bail to Samuel in the Erattupetta case. The court ordered him to surrender before the investigating officer and execute a bond of ₹50,000 with two solvent sureties. Bail conditions included full cooperation with the investigation.[29]
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