Senior Zee editors arrested by the Crime Branch on November 27 for allegedly trying to extort `100 crore from Congress MP Naveen Jindal’s firm have been granted bail by a city court on furnishing a personal bond of `50,000 each.
Additional sessions judge Raj Rani Mittra while granting bail to Zee News editor Sudhir Chaudhary and Zee Business editor Samir Ahluwalia cited the particular case of Gurcharan Singh Vs. State (Delhi administration) 1979, in which the Supreme Court noted two paramount consideration should be taken into notice before granting bail in a non-bailable offence.
The court said: “......that two paramount considerations while considering a petition for grant of bail in a non-bailable offence, apart from seriousness of the offences, the likelihood of accused fleeing from justice and tampering with the prosecution witnesses,” as this relate to ensure the fair trial of the case.
Thus, after observing that arrested journalist were in custody since 20 days of their arrest, the court said, “Keeping in view the totality of circumstances, the nature of offence and antecedents of the accused, they (editors) be admitted on bail on furnishing personal bond of the sum of `50,000 each with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the metropolitan magistrate.”
Earlier, the counsels appearing for Mr Samir and Mr Sudhir have submitted in the bail plea that their clients are, “available for interrogation by the investigation officer as they have roots in the society, hence, there are negligible chances of fleeing from the law.”
Further, the counsels also emphasised before the court, that whenever the custody of arrested journalists was sought by the probe agency they have joined the investigation and the editors assured the court that they would give their cooperation even after the bail is granted.
The court also said there is no likelihood of his tampering with the evidence or influencing the witnesses.
However, the prosecution vehemently opposed their bail plea saying that investigation has to be carried out to unearth the entire conspiracy. It continued, “it is to be kept in mind that individual liberty cannot be accentuated to such an extent or elevated to such high pedestal which would brig in anarchy or disorder in the society.”
According to the complaint by Mr. Jindal, Zee News tried to extort `100 crore in exchange for not airing unfavourable stories.