Zee editors' bail plea rejected

The bail plea of Zee News head Sudhir Chaudhary and Zee Business editor Samir Ahluwalia, accused in an extortion case filed by Congress leader Naveen Jindal's group firm, were rejected by a Delhi court.

Metropolitan magistrate Rajinder Singh rejected Chaudhary and Ahluwalia’s bail plea.

“Investigation is at the preliminary stage. It was earlier dismissed by the duty magistrate and no fresh ground has arisen since then. Hence, in my considered opinion, it has been
dismissed,” said the court.

The court said they have not given any new ground for their release on bail in the fresh application after dismissal of their first plea on November 28.

The duo editors were arrested for allegedly trying to extort Rs 100 crore from Jindal's firm for not telecasting reports linking it to the coal scam.

The counsel for Jindal’s firm also opposed the bail saying that they had got a threat call from Zee news asking them to withdraw the case.

A call was received from Zee News saying “yeh kya laga rakha, Naveen Jindal ko batao, Zee ke khilaf case wapas le (What is this? Tell Jindal that to withdraw a case against Zee),” Ramesh Gupta, the counsel of Jindal’s firm said.