Zee News sends Rs 150-cr defamation notice to Naveen Jindal

Zee News has accused Jindal and JSPL of attempting to divert attention from the demand for an independent probe in the Coalgate scam and to malign the television network

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | October 27, 2012

In a strong response to Naveen Jindal and JSPL'S press conference on Thursday during which he had alleged wrongdoing on the part of Zee News, Zee News Limited on Friday has sent a defamation notice to the tune of Rs 150 crore against Naveen Jindal and JSPL.

In a press statement, Zee News has condemned and completely rejected the doctored evidence produced by Jindal. Zee News sees this as a deliberate attempt to malign the trustworthy television network.

Zee News has given a three-day time period to Naveen Jindal to withdraw all his unsubstantiated and defamatory allegations against Zee News, failing which he would face civil and criminal action initiated by Zee News.

Zee News has always been a forerunner in exposing Jindal's double standard as a politician and industrialist in the Coalgate scam. The news channel clearly understands that it is to suppress the coverage that Zee News was telecasting on Coalgate, that the Corporate Communications team from JSPL first tried to bribe Samir Ahluwalia with Rs 25 crore, which he declined straightway, and later was offered a Rs 100-crore advertising deal to stop the coverage of the Coalgate scam, Zee News said in the statement.

“Zee News has always been in pursuit of seeking the truth in the Coalgate scam, and has had several interactions with Jindal and his officials. We accuse Jindal and JSPL of maligning the name of Zee News since they chose to display an edited/doctored CD where only selected portions were shown. Jindal has a history of unfairly targeting those who dare to confront him with the truth,” the press communiqué said.

Attempts by right thinking media houses including Zee News to bring out the truth in the Rs 186,000 lakh crore Coalgate scam are being muzzled by Jindal by distorting the truth and defaming those on the righteous path. Even the CAG has listed Naveen Jindal-promoted JSPL as the primary beneficiary in the Coalgate scam, it pointed out.

The statement added: “We are of the view that similar false allegations have been made by Naveen Jindal and his officials against Zee News in a police complaint and we see it as subversion of the due process of law. Clearly, we see this as an attempt to prejudice and defame us and to overreach the investigation in this regard and have hence sent a defamation notice to JSPL and Naveen Jindal.”

The statement goes on to assert that Zee News is undeterred by such diversionary tactics adopted by Jindal and JSPL and would stay focused on unraveling the ultimate truth in the Coalgate scam and have only taken this route to counter the allegations made.

Also read: Commentary: Zee vs Jindal: The jury is still out

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