Court rejects Zee News editor's plea for anticipatory bail

NEW DELHI: A court here has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Zee News editor Sudhir Chaudhary in a fresh case registered against him by the Delhi Police for telecasting a show allegedly on the basis of forged documents against Jindal Group in connection with Coalgate.

Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash brushed aside Chaudhary's contention that the fresh FIR has been filed against him due to "a grudge as he is the editor of the channel which is running in public interest news against Jindal group regarding their involvement in coal scam."

He also said that no forged documents have been used by him.

The police had registered a fresh case of forgery against Chaudhary for telecasting in October 2012 a show titled "media ka sauda" and showing on screen what they claimed to be a part of CAG report but were found to be forged.

The prosecution opposed his plea for anticipatory bail and said while showing the documents on screen, Chaudhary wrongly claimed that CAG report makes it clear how Naveen Jindal and companies associated with him have benefitted substantially and illegally in coal block allocation.

Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan said during investigation, it was found that the annexures shown during the programme were not part of the CAG report but were forged and fabricated documents.

Mohan said the accused also showed documents of certain companies with name of Jindal as their promoter when in fact he does not have any kind of relationship with those companies.

While denying Chaudhary's plea, the court said the probe in the matter is at an initial stage.

The court also said that by forging and fabricating the documents, the accused appears to be in violation of the bail condition in a previous case of extortion.

It also said that "a newspaper or a TV channel should show only the true facts and documents as the public at large believes on the basis of their viewing and hence has the effect on public at large."

The ASJ also noted that accused was repeatedly called to join the investigation but avoided the same.

Meanwhile, another court rejected Zee News' plea for stay on proceedings in a defamation case filed by Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) against the channel.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma dismissed the revision filed by the channel for a stay on the proceedings.