Sudhir Chaudhary tapes: Jindal has withdrawn FIR alleging extortion against Zee and its editors

It’s time to forget the sting tapes, featuring Zee News Editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary and others, released by industrialist and former Congress MP Naveen Jindal’s company. Almost six years after Jindal and his company levelled extortion charges against Chaudhary of Zee News and Sameer Ahluwalia of Zee Business, the first information report has been withdrawn.

Three tweets, each from Zee group head Subhash Chandra, Chaudhary and Jindal, although different in tone and its structuring, declared that the war between the two groups is over.

Rajya Sabha MP Chandra in his tweet said that both Jindal and Zee group have withdrawn cases against each other. “I am happy that JSPL & Naveen Jindal have withdrawn FIR alleging extortion with Delhi Police against Zee & its editors, similarly Zee has agreed to withdraw all complaints & cases against JSPL & Naveen Jindal. I wish Naveen very best in his life.”

Jindal, replying to Chandra’s tweet, announced that “all differences that took place because of miscommunication” have been resolved.

But for Zee News editor Chaudhary that act was not just limited withdrawal of cases. He claimed that with this development the “truth prevailed” and his “innocence” has been proven.

In September 2012, Jindal had accused Chaudhary and Ahluwalia of trying to extort Rs 100 crore from his company.  Back then Jindal group was marred with controversies pertaining to the coal block allotments.

Based on the audio recording and tapes, which Jindal group had termed as a counter-sting operation, the Delhi Police swung in action. Chaudhary and Ahluwalia were arrested by the police in November 2012.

Back then Delhi Police DCP SBS Tyagi had said, “Prima facie evidence of criminal conspiracy and extortion has been found against the two leading to their arrest.”

Fast forward to last night, the photo tweeted last night by the former Congress parliamentarian, has sought “peace”.