Zee journalists 'say' their boss knew about negotiations: police

Zee News editors Sudhir Chaudhary and Samir Ahluwalia have admitted that the "advertisement agreement" they had handed over to Jindal Steel's representatives to secure ads worth Rs. 100 cr was drafted by them, police claim, Karn Pratap Singh reports.

Zee News editors Sudhir Chaudhary and Samir Ahluwalia have admitted that the "advertisement agreement" they had handed over to Jindal Steel's representatives to secure advertisements worth Rs. 100 crore was drafted by them, police claimed on Friday.

The two journalists were arrested in connection with an alleged extortion bid case lodged by Jindal Steel Private Limited (JSPL) - a firm owned by Congress MP Naveen Jindal.

Chaudhary and Ahluwalia, sources said, have also told the police that Subhash Chandra, chairman of Zee group, was allegedly aware of the advertisement agreement which they drafted on behalf of Zee.

Chandra also allegedly knew about the meetings the duo had with of JSPL representatives on September 10, 13, 17 and 19 for allegedly demanding R100 crore worth advertisements for not airing news about Jindal group's alleged involvement in the coal block allocation scam, police said.

"The disclosures were made by Chaudhary and Ahluwalia during their custodial interrogation. They have confessed that they had drafted the forged advertisement agreement and later handed it over to the JSPL," said a senior investigating officer, adding they now want to quiz Chandra and ask what he has to say about the revelations of his company's two editors.

Meanwhile, three top Zee executives joined investigation on Friday. Chandra and Zee group MD Puneet Goenka, however, are yet to respond to the crime branch notice.

Jawahar Goel, one of the owners/shareholders of Zee group, A Mohan, legal and regulatory affairs head and Amit Tripathi, sales head, arrived at the Chanakyapuri office of inter state cell, crime branch on Friday and recorded their statement in the case.

Investigators said they have enough evidence to "nail even Chandra in the case".