In a clear sign that the crime branch was ready to dig its heels in the case, top officials confirmed that they had served notice to Chandra, who owns the Zee group, on two successive days.
“We had asked him to join the investigation on Tuesday, but he had communicated his inability to do so on that day. We have sent him another notice on Wednesday evening,” a top police officer told TOI.
As the Zee group launched a major defence of its arrested editors, a trial court sent two – Sudhir Chaudhary and Samir Ahluwalia – to police custody after Delhi police said it needed to unearth the conspiracy. The arrests were made on basis of a complaint by Congress MP Naveen Jindal’s group that the two tried to extort Rs 100 crore for not broadcasting news reports linking the firm to the coal scam.
Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha also rejected the bail plea of Chaudhary, head of Zee News and Samir Ahluwalia, head of Zee Business.
Appearing before the court, Delhi Police told the court that Subhash Chandra and Punit Goenka, MD of the channel, were also accused in the case. It said Chandra was complicit in the demand of money.
A police source, however, clarified that Goenka had not been send a notice yet. The cops have also now charged Chaudhary and Ahluwalia with cheating, claiming that they also need to examine how the CAG report – which was at the centre of the acrimony between Zee News and the Jindal Group – was accessed by the media organization.
Going on the offensive, the Zee group called the arrests “illegal” and said “intimidating the media may further boomerang (on UPA 2).”
The media house it raised three points for the police. First, it asked what was the sudden provocation for the arrests when both editors were always available for questioning. Second, it pointed out that an interaction of around six hours (meetings between the editors and Jindal officals took place on September 10, 13, 17 and 19) was edited into 14 minutes of “distorted” conversation. And third, the group claimed Jindal himself offered the money to them, a fact that the cops were overlooking.
In a statement, Zee News CEO Alok Agarwal said, “In 65 years of democracy in independent India, this is only the second time the media has been censored without putting an official stamp of emergency”.
Agarwal accused Jindal of misusing the official machinery, saying the steel tycoon had earlier tried to influence Zee News by offering money. “The fact is that Jindal is the one who offered money first to the editors, and then, to the company. He also tried to influence various senior functionaries in Zee News, not only directly, but also through various other people, including his elder brother, uncle and some political leaders…,” he added.
Asked if his statement could be backed with proof, Agarwal said, “Proof will be produced as and when required.”
Police sources, however, said they had proof of a conversation between Ahluwalia and Subhas Chandra immediately after the meeting between the editors and Jindal group. “The call lasted 286 seconds and the call location is inside the hotel, which was the venue of the meeting. We believe the call was made to inform Chandra about the meeting. We need to question Chandra on this aspect,” the source said.
Naveen Jindal on Wednesday avoided commenting on the fresh allegations levelled against him by Zee News channel, saying all efforts were directed to ensure that the truth comes out. “I would like to repeat that I have a lot of respect for the media. This matter is under investigation by the Delhi Police. Also, it matter is sub judice. So, I think, it is best that we leave it at that,” said Jindal.
Meanwhile, the Jindal group said in a statement that the law was taking its own course. “Zee TV’s comment that the arrest of its editors is a Black Day for the media is unfortunate. The arrest of the two journalists being termed Black Day is rather demeaning the credibility of the media. Instead, Black Day was the day when these editors tried to extort Rs 100 crore from the Jindal group,” the statement said.
The crime branch maintained that the arrests had been made according to the law, after the CFSL reports reached them confirming that the CD was not doctored. The cops claimed they have enough prima facie evidence, including extensive call record details to build their case.
Editors' arrests recall Emergency, Zee says http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-89EKCgBk8MZdE.gif
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