When Fiction Poses as News: Manorama’s Legacy of False Reporting and Hollow Apologies

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes,” said Mark Twain once upon a time. But if Twain had ever picked up a copy of Malayala Manorama in Kerala, he would’ve upgraded that quote to: “A lie can go viral by breakfast while truth is still brushing its teeth.”
Welcome to the post- truth era, where facts don’t matter unless they can be twisted into a juicy anti-government headline, especially if the government in question is the LDF and the party is CPI M. In this daily circus of misinformation, Malayala Manorama seems to have permanently reserved front- row seats for itself, if not the whole stage.
Their latest masterclass in fiction came on 25th May 2025, when Manorama reported that CPI M received Rs 25 lakh via Electoral Bonds from Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd in 2021–22. Just one small problem, it wasn’t the truth. The party didn’t receive a paisa through Electoral Bonds. The money in question was a regular donation. That tiny detail didn’t stop Manorama from spinning a headline, though.

Screen grab of fake news Published By Manorama on May 25 on it's online portal

When CPI M State Secretary M V Govindan got wind of this fantasy journalism, he didn’t waste time. Through his legal counsel Advocate K S Arunkumar, he fired off a legal notice to the Chief Editor and Managing Editor of Manorama, demanding a public retraction and an unconditional apology. The warning was crystal clear: either apologise within three days or get ready for criminal defamation cases, civil suits for reputational damage, and a formal complaint to the Press Council of India.
Faced with the backlash online and a lawyer breathing down their editorial necks, Manorama finally blinked. On 26th May, they quietly published a correction saying the amount received was a donation, not through Electoral Bonds, and tossed in a dry apology for the “error.”

The Apology issued by Manorama on May 26, 2025

But here’s the thing, this wasn’t a silly goof or a typo. It was a deliberate, calculated attack. CPI M, for the record, has never received funds through the now- scrapped Electoral Bond scheme. That’s not just a party claim, it’s backed by official SBI data released after the Supreme Court ripped the mask off the scheme and declared it unconstitutional. The apex court said anonymous corporate funding violates citizens’ right to information and destroys democratic transparency.
And who was the only major party that challenged this shady scheme in court? None other than CPI M. The party fought a principled legal battle against corporate secrecy in politics, and won. That victory should have been front-page news. But Manorama constricted the information to inner page as a one column story.
The timing of this fake news is no accident either. CPI M is currently all set to face local body election scheduled for 2025. CPI M is actively standing up for people’s rights and pushing back against the Centre’s anti-people policies too. So naturally, Manorama decided it’s the perfect time to launch a hit job. And the party has made it loud and clear, they won’t take this lightly.
As CPI M Kerala Secretariat member M Swaraj wittily put it, quoting EMS Namboodiripad, “If Manorama writes something good about me, I should be worried.” It's a running joke that if Manorama praises the CPI M, something must be terribly wrong. Because otherwise, they never miss a chance to throw mud. But when it comes to BJP or Congress, the paper suddenly becomes very shy.
Take the Kodakara Hawala case, for instance. Instead of naming the BJP, which was at the heart of the scandal, Manorama tiptoed around it with the vague label “a national party.” If the accused is a Congress member, their party name vanishes from the report like magic. But if it’s CPI M? Full name, party logo, and extra spicy side stories will be served.
This isn't new. Manorama seems less like a newspaper and more like a scriptwriting studio. Let’s rewind a bit and look at their not so old works of fiction.
The Silver Line high-speed rail project is a prime example. Manorama first ranted that the project would ruin the state. Now, they’re yelling that the government isn’t moving fast enough. They conveniently forget that the Centre still hasn’t given final clearance. But who cares about facts when there’s a headline to cook?

Then came the tale of the Midday Meal funds. Manorama reported that money meant for feeding school kids was used to buy vehicles. What actually happened? The Education Department rented electric vehicles using separate administrative funds. Not a single meal was denied to a child. But Manorama’s version had readers imagining ministers riding Teslas while kids starved.
Next came a blunder claim that LDF was running four local bodies with SDPI support, despite CPI M’s well-known opposition to SDPI. CPI M replied with a legal notice, pointing out they either had a clear majority or support from independents. But Manorama didn't let the truth ruin a good fiction.
And in an Oscar- worthy episode, Manorama claimed a corporation council meeting in Kozhikode was burdened with fight over ward divisions. There’s just one problem, the meeting never even happened. That didn’t stop the paper from filing a story. Looks like someone submitted the report without leaving their desk.
And who can forget the 2020 blockbuster headline: “Minister Jayarajan’s Wife Breaches Quarantine, Arrives to Subscribe Locker.” The Kannur court later slapped Manorama with a Rs 10 lakh penalty for this beauty. PK Indira, wife of LDF convener EP Jayarajan, had simply visited a bank locker to collect some jewellery for her grandson’s birthday. Manorama linked it to gold smuggling. Their imagination clearly needs no quarantine.
The day before this “locker gate,” they had already published a story dragging the Minister’s son into the LIFE Mission controversy. Coincidence? Not likely. More like a two-day special report meant to smear the family and keep fake narratives alive.
All of this adds up to one big, alarming truth: Manorama isn’t just reporting news anymore. They’re producing it. With a generous mix of imagination, right-wing seasoning, and a burning desire to attack the Left, they’re turning their editorial office into Kerala’s top fiction studio.
Until then, the people of Kerala should keep their critical thinking hats on. Because if Manorama keeps going at this rate, soon their headlines will read more like storyboards than news reports. After all, truth may still be tying its shoelaces, but it won’t let lies run the whole race. As Mark Twain say "Truth is mighty and will prevail', if not right now, soon.