Panel to look into Jindal's charges against Zee news channel

The committee, it said, will delve into the aspects of allegations pertaining to ethical lapses, if any and submit its report in two weeks.

BAE, which called an emergency meeting of the executive committee, said that since it was an apex body of the news channel editors which seeks to ensure high ethical practices in the electronic media, it was imperative to take suo motto cognisance of the news reports.

Jindal's company has filed an FIR against Zee Business channel for allegedly demanding Rs 50 crore for not doing a news story on coal scam.

Sudhir Chaudhary, the head of Zee Business, rubbished the allegations as "fabrication" and described it as "pressure tactics" to stop doing stories.

"BEA has viewed with concern the reports in a section of the media with regard to the filing of an FIR by industrialist-cum-politician Naveen Jindal against the editor and other functionaries of Zee News.

"As per the news reports, the allegations levelled in the FIR are of serious nature," it said in a statement.

It further noted that while it was aware of instances of "frivolous" and "trumped-up allegations" against channels and their functionaries, "it cannot be oblivious of the fact that the conduct of those holding high positions in the media organisations should be above board".

The fact finding committee will comprise BEA general secretary N K Singh, managing editor of Headlines Today Rahul Kanwal and BEA member Dibang. (More)