Zee boss ready for lie-detector test, his editors refuse

Zee Group Chairman Subhash Chandra, named in the FIR lodged in the alleged Rs 100 crore extortion bid from Naveen Jindal's firm, on Wednesday agreed before a court in New Delhi to undergo lie-detector test but his two arrested editors refused to do so.

Chandra said he can be subjected to the test on the condition that he be informed about its procedure.

However, the two arrested Zee editors Sudhir Chaudhary and Samir Ahluwalia, accused in the extortion bid case, refused to undergo the test but agreed to give their voice samples.

Metropolitan Magistrate Gaurav Rao, meanwhile, has issued production warrant to the editors for Thursday and also sought presence of Chandra before it.

"To secure presence of the accused persons before the disposal of their applications under consideration. Accordingly, issue production warrant for both accused (Sudhir and Samir) on December 13. As far as Chandra is concerned, his counsel Vijay Aggarwal has informed this court that he is ready to undergo lie detector test subject to the techniques used by the investigative agency for the test...Nonetheless, I deem it fit to secure his (Chandra) presence on December 13," the judge said.

Aggarwal, while agreeing to the test, said that his client will undergo it only if the probe agency informs them of the process under which they will conduct the test.

He said,"Chandra is undergoing some serious treatment and so before taking the test, he will need to consult his doctors abroad."

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police had moved an application seeking to subject Chandra and his channel's two editors, lodged in jail in the case, to a lie-detector test saying it is required to bring the truth on record.