MP Naveen Jindal accuses Zee TV of extortion, shows video

Congress MP Naveen Jindal has filed a criminal case against Zee TV for a sting operation about his company's alleged involvement in the scam-tainted coal block allocations. Jindal alleged that he was asked for cash to stop the negative story on him.

In a dramatic press conference on Thursday, Jindal also released tapes showing the conversation between a Zee News reporter and his team members. "Media in our country has to be above suspicion. Media has played a crucial role in our country. Jindal Steel and Power has faced an incident on which I want to give a pure version. The way Zee TV has carried the news, it has become important for me to share," Jindal said.

The Zee Television group had on Monday denied the allegation made by Jindal against the channel that it had sought advertisement commitments worth crores of rupees. "This kind of allegation has happened in the past and may happen in the future. It doesn't make any difference to us and we will stick to the truth. These are all pressure tactics," Zee Entertainment Enterprises managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka had said.

Zee News had also alleged that Jindal misbehaved with a team of its reporters after they sought clarifications from him on the allegations levelled against his company for alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks. Zee Group Chairman Subhash Chandra had also said his journalists were not involved in any wrongdoing and asserted that the accusations were false.

(With additional information from PTI)