Two ZEE editors arrested on extortion charges

Sudhir Chaudhary, business head and editor of ZEE News and Sameer Ahluwalia, head of ZEE Business have been arrested on charges of extortion based on a complaint filed by Congress MP Naveen Jindal.

S B S Tyagi, DCP (Crime Branch), said, “Prima facie evidence of criminal conspiracy and extortion has been found against the two leading to their arrest.” The ZEE editors had earlier denied charges levelled against them.

According to a report in Times Of India, police said the arrests came after forensic experts submitted a report stating the CD containing the audio and video recording of the conversation between ZEE editors and Jindal’s officials was “not doctored”. The inter-state cell of crime branch has found other conclusive evidence against the duo, it is claimed.

“The two editors were called for questioning on Tuesday during which they could not give satisfactory answers to our questions. They were informed around 8.30pm about their arrests after four hours of questioning. They will be produced in Saket court at 2pm on Wednesday,” a senior police officer said.