In an exposé that has made public internal communications between the Essar Group and senior government officials, ministers, bureaucrats and senior journalists, two senior journalists have resigned for reportedly “accepting favours.”
The communications of the Essar Group, that were made public by a whistleblower, state how the organisation cultivated individuals in positions of power and influence and gave them gifts and extended undue favours to push its business interests.
Essar however, denied the charges.
The exchanges, which were disclosed in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court, assert that : “the conduct of the journalists and media companies in taking favours from corporates and in carrying out planted stories is in violation of journalistic norms and ethics”.
In addition to that, the PIL has also cited two emails that mention that senior journalists Anupama Airy and Sandeep Bamzai had sought favours from the group.
One such email dated October 26, 2012, reads, “Kindly arrange a car for Ms Anupama Airy. She needs the car from 9th Nov till 11th Nov.”
Another email dated November 23, 2012, says: “Please note Mr Sandeep Bamzai would like to continue the car till 1st December 2012.”
Following the leaks, Mail Today Editor Sandeep Bamzai put in his resignation.
Bamzai later stated, “propriety demands that I quit and I have done so.” However, added that he had taken an ordinary cab, since his driver’s father had passed away.
Likewise, Hindustan Times’ Energy Editor Anupama Airy was also suspended with immediate effect, after her name surfaced in the correspondence. While Airy reportedly admitted to using the car, she resigned soon after the suspension.
“We came to know about it today. She admitted to using the car and we suspended her to start a more detailed enquiry into the matter, following which she resigned.”
- Nic Dawes, Chief Content Officer, Hindustan Times.
In addition to the two, Times Now’s senior journalist Meetu Jain’s name had also cropped in the email for requiring “a car for local use.” Jain however, denied all the allegations, stating that she had not used the vehicle.
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