Company Bid To Muzzle Mediamen

In the jam-packed premises of the enforcement directorate, with media people jostling to take a peek at detained former chairmen J N Sapru and K L Chugh, an army of around 20 persons who hardly looked the friendly neighbourhood ITC executives, forced their way into the second floor of Lindsay Hotel which houses the offices of the directorate at around 10 pm.

As they shoved aside reporters and photographers, the stench of country liquor was overpowering. They had come to shield the ailing 60-plus Sapru from being manhandled by the press, they claimed.

An altercation followed in the humid, smoke filled atmosphere. Countless hordes of insects that had found their way into the building made life even more difficult for the mediapersons.

 

An elderly photographer was jostled by one of the musclemen. They even suggested that the police be called to clear out reporters and photographers from the directorate premises.

One angry reporter shot back, This is not Virginia House where everything is done under the cloak of secrecy and the press is debarred. This is an office concerning public interest.

Events would have taken a nasty turn but for the timely intervention of chief enforcement officer M L Acharya who tried his best to soothe nerves on both sides. He remarked, The ITC people have no business to be here.

ITCs internal security force had turned up in full force under the leadership of chief security officer Subhash Dhar. Matters cooled down, to a large extent, when ITC executive director, human resources department, Ananda Nayak intervened.

Earlier on Wednesday, two Business Standard journalists were told by securitymen that they would not be allowed to meet any union representative without orders from the head office. Despite repeated entreaties from the journalists to speak to any official, the securitypersons threateningly cordoned off the Kidderpore factory premises, denying them even a civil response.