At the silver jubilee edition of FICCI Frames 2025, India Today Group Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie delivered a sermon titled “Media Needs Freedom, Not Control.” The veteran publisher, marking nearly five decades in the media industry, urged the government to step back from regulation and allow market forces to drive the news ecosystem.
However, his critique of corporate entry into news has drawn sharp scrutiny, particularly because the India Today Group itself has long-standing corporate investments and business linkages.
Purie’s Call For Media Freedom
Speaking at the event, Purie said he had witnessed five decades of “disruption” in the media industry. He highlighted the transformation from India Today magazine’s five-million readership to a 750-million combined audience across print, television, digital, and social platforms.
Purie praised technological adaptation including the launch of India’s first AI news anchor, “Sana” but warned that excessive government regulation was “strangling” the broadcasting sector that employs 1.7 million people.
“The government’s lack of foresight and regressive policies have made a mess of the broadcasting industry,” he said, calling for a “fair level playing field, not control.”
He also criticised global tech giants, Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, for acting as “new editors-in-chief” who profit from journalism without producing it, and lamented that algorithms reward “outrage over accuracy.”
Purie then expressed concern about the entry of large industrial houses into the news business, saying such players treat news “not as a business but as a tool of influence,” thereby distorting economic models and harming journalistic integrity.
India Today’s Corporate Ties
While Purie warned against corporate capture of news, industry observers quickly pointed out that his own media empire has long been backed by major corporate investors.
Aditya Birla Group Investment: In 2012, the Aditya Birla Group made a significant investment in the India Today Group, and reports suggest it continues to hold a sizeable stake.
Corporate Parallels: Purie’s criticism of conglomerates like Reliance, which acquired stakes in NDTV and Network18, has been described as ironic by commentators who note India Today’s similar ties.
Aroon Purie’s Expanding Business Interests
Beyond the India Today Group’s extensive portfolio of television channels, magazines, and digital outlets, the Purie family controls a diverse range of business ventures.
- Education: Purie owns Vasant Valley School, among the most expensive private schools in the National Capital Region.
- Manufacturing and Investments: He serves as a director in SKH Metals and several investment firms.
- Hospitality: He was an early investor in Nightstay, a hotel-booking company.
The Purie family also holds leadership roles in multiple enterprises:
- Thomson Press India Ltd. — Aroon Purie is Chairman; his daughter Koel Purie and son Ankoor Purie serve as Directors.
- 185 Carat Films — Koel Purie’s film production company.
Ankoor Purie’s Companies
- DigiSpace Tech Solutions Ltd. (IT services and consulting)
- Farscape Journeys LLP (automobile sector)
- Hyperspace Music Pvt. Ltd. (music production)
- Subtle Mechanics Pvt. Ltd. (design/tech ventures)
Additionally, the family operates Vibgyor Broadcasting Services, further broadening their media footprint.
Aroon Purie of India Today group is crying that Corporates are entering in Media and it is a tool of influence.
Did @aroonpurie tell you that Aditya Birla Group did huge investment in India Today way back in 2012. Still holds good amount of share. Similarly Ambanis made… pic.twitter.com/aER2iWSJuJ
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) October 9, 2025
Real Concern: Loss Of Monopoly In Shaping Narratives
Industry watchers interpret Purie’s remarks not as a defense of press freedom, but as frustration over the loss of traditional media monopoly. As new corporate entrants and digital-first players dominate viewership metrics, India Today’s television ratings have reportedly declined, leading to speculation that Purie’s speech was a veiled critique of rivals rather than a principled stand on regulation.
Aroon Purie’s call for a freer, less-regulated media and his warning about corporate encroachment resonated with many in theory. But the growing evidence of his own group’s deep corporate entanglements and family-run business empire has led others to see his remarks as selective, a case of opposing influence when it comes from outside his circle.
(With inputs from Ankur Singh’s X post)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.