The arguments on the bail applications moved by jailed Zee News editor Sudhir Chaudhary and Zee Business editor Samir Ahluwalia were deferred by a court here to Monday after the investigating officer (IO) and the public prosecutor (PP) failed to show up for the hearing on Saturday.
The two journalists are accused of demanding Rs.100 crore from Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. in the form of advertisements to purportedly dilute the campaign launched by their news channels against JSPL in connection with the coal blocks allocation scam.
Unhappy with the no-show by the prosecution, Metropolitan Magistrate Gaurav Rao asked for a senior police officer to file a written explanation why the IO and the PP were not present though the court had issued prior notice.
The editors moved bail applications earlier on Wednesday too, which were rejected. On Friday, fresh bail pleas were moved, which were to come up for hearing on Saturday. On Friday, the two editors were remanded in judicial custody till December 14.