Zee News shoots off complaint to CBI against Navin Jindal

The 13-page letter draws attention to interference by Jindal to influence the case by calling up NBSA Chairman Justice (Retd) JS Verma

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | January 3, 2013

In a fresh development in the Zee News versus steel baron Navin Jindal, also a Congress MP, case, Santosh Nair, Authorised Representative of Zee News Ltd, has shot off a detailed 13-page letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, complaining of interference by Jindal to influence the case. The letter was delivered to the CBI Director yesterday, informed sources have said. BestMediaInfo has accessed a copy of the letter.

The complaint is in respect of the call given by Naveen Jindal to the Chairman of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), JS Verma (Retd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), to “influence him and seek a favourable order in a complaint pending before the said Authority”.

The operative part of the complaint by Zee News reads: “On 18.10.2012 the accused company filed a complaint before the Chairman of the Press Council of India, against the persons named in the FIR, inter-alia, reiterating the same false allegations of extortion made in the complaint. The Chairman of the Press Council of India, Justice (Retd) M Katju referred the aforesaid complaint to the Chairman, Justice (Retd) JS Verma, of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA). The NBSA issued notice to Zee News Ltd informing that the matter has been fixed for 31.10.2012 for hearing.”

It further said: “On 31^st October, 2012 when the matter came up for hearing before the Chairman of NBSA, the Learned Chairman revealed that Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament, had telephoned him prior to the hearing to influence/pressurize him for an order favourable to him and his company. The Learned Chairman took strong umbrage to this. The Senior Advocate appearing on behalf of the accused sought to tender a pre-prepared unconditional written apology on behalf of his client, which the Learned Chairman refused to accept or take on record. The hearing thereafter proceeded and as recorded in the proceedings dated 12^th November, 2012 of the NBSA, the NBSA decided not to entertain the matter since 'the same is sub judice in a suit filed by Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) and under investigation into the allegations made by JSPL in the FIR'. The proceedings had taken place in presence of their officers and accused, namely, Anand Goel, Rajeev Bhadauria and our counsels present in the forum that day.”

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com