Court directs further probe against Zee Group chairman, others

A Delhi court has refused to take cognisance of the charge sheet filed against Zee Group chairman Subhash Chandra, Zee editors Sudhir Chaudhary and Samir Ahluwalia for their alleged Rs 100 crore extortion bid from Congress MP Naveen Jindal's firm and directed the police to further probe into the matter.

The court directed Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police's Crime Branch to get the matter investigated by an officer not below the rank of an ACP or Assistant Commissioner of Police and file before it "further final report at the earliest" saying there were "material lacunae" in the investigation.

"The matter requires further investigation on the material aspects as detailed above in this order. All the
above mentioned circumstances point out that the matter has not been properly and fully investigated by the IO (Investigating Officer) and requires further investigation. Keeping in view the facts of the case and the investigation done in the matter, it seems that the matter should be further investigated by a police official not below the rank of an ACP...

"...the DCP Crime Branch is directed to get the matter further investigated by a police officer not below the rank of an ACP and to file a further final report in this matter at the earliest," Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Bansal said.

Police had earlier filed its charge sheet against Mr Chandra, Mr Ahluwalia and Mr Chaudhary under various provisions of the IPC or Indian Penal Code, including sections 384/511 (attempt to extortion), 420/511 (attempt to cheating), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (destruction of evidence).

Ordering further probe in the case, the court said there are "glaring and material lacunae" in the case with respect to investigation.

Mr Chaudhary and Mr Ahluwalia were earlier arrested in the case but they are presently on bail in the case filed by Congress MP Naveen Jindal's firm.