"On the basis of the material placed before it and considering the seriousness of the complaint, the NBSA has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter," an NBSA release said.
The complaint, earlier filed before the Press Council of India, was forwarded to the NBSA as it did not fall within the remit of PCI.
PCI chairperson Justice Markandey Katju yesterday wrote to the NBSA to probe an alleged extortion attempt by certain people belonging to Zee news from Jindal Steel and Power Ltd.
In his letter to NBSA chairperson Justice J S Verma, Katju said that industrialist and MP Naveen Jindal had met him and complained about alleged extortion demand from officials of the channel for publicising his version. He said Jindal claimed to have video recordings of such demands.
"It is alleged that they first telecast false news against Jindal as regards allocation of coal blocks and other issues, in order to injure and harm the reputation and business of Jindal, and when Jindal invited them for a discussion to tell them the correct facts Zee officials demanded 100 crore for publicising the version of Jindal," Katju said.
"I would request you to make a thorough enquiry into the matter at an early date, because if the allegations of Jindal are correct then surely you would agree that strong action is required, because the reputation and honour of a person or Company is an invaluable asset to him or it," he said in his letter to Verma.
