The executive committee of the Broadcast Editors' Association (BEA) has sacked Sudhir Chaudhary, editor and business head of Zee News, from the position of the treasurer and also cancelled his permanent member of the BEA.
The BEA, which is the apex body of the TV news editors, said in a statement, "Sudhir Chaduhary is found to have acted in a manner that is unbecoming of an editor and in a fashion that is prejudicial to the interest and objects of the BEA."
It added that the BEA is a body of editors of electronic news channels which seeks to ensure high standards in journalism. "Such an exercise had become imperative in the light of allegations made against one of its members," BEA said.
The move followed after the BEA met to discuss and consider the report of the three-member Fact Finding Committee, which was investigating on the allegations leveled by Naveen Jindal, Congress MP and promoter of Jindal Steel and Power Limited against Chaudhary. The committee, comprising N K Singh, Dibang and Rahul Kanwal, found him guilty.
Later by the way of a secret ballot by members of the executive committee, the BEA resolved to remove Chaudhary as member of the BEA. The committee will appoint a new treasurer at its next meeting.
JSPL had filed a police complaint against Zee News, alleging that its senior journalists had demanded money, in way of advertisements, to stop a negative story about the company's involvement in the coal block allocations scam. In its FIR, Jindal has stated that Zee News has asked for advertising commitment to the tune of Rs 100 crore in lieu of blocking the news. The company also filed complaints with the anti-extortion cell of the Delhi Police's crime branch and with Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju.