Sarkar uses Shah’s name to threaten media rival!
29 Sep 2014 12:10 AM GMT
On 11 September, Shrikant Mohta, owner of Shree Venkatesh Films (SVF), filed a complaint with Kolkata Police Cyber Cell that between 9.15 am and 12 pm on 9 September, he had received several text messages from Sarkar.
Mohta alleges that Sarkar, in those text messages, had said the former was starting a news channel with ‘money being pumped in from Saradha chit fund’. Mohta says Sarkar even went on to the extent of claiming that BJP national president Amit Shah was ‘aware’ of the matter and that even the CBI considers Mohta’s news channel to be an ‘outlet for Saradha fund’.
Mohta alleges that Sarkar, in those text messages, had said the former was starting a news channel with ‘money being pumped in from Saradha chit fund’. Mohta says Sarkar even went on to the extent of claiming that BJP national president Amit Shah was ‘aware’ of the matter and that even the CBI considers Mohta’s news channel to be an ‘outlet for Saradha fund’.
According to the SVF owner, the ABP honcho wrote in his message: ‘The CBI is correct though. And Amit Shah is aware of the affair… They also think it is an outlet for Saradha fund. I do not know if it is correct. I hope not. But that is what the CBI feels.’
Mohta, while replying to one of Sarkar’s texts says: ‘Sir this is news to me as well and if at all I launch a news channel I think I am capable enough to do it on my own.’
Mohta accuses Sarkar of sending such messages with a malafide intention to criminally intimidate him and put him in disrepute, also threatening him in turn. Mohta also says the messages were sent through a mobile phone and it was quite evident from the texts that Sarkar knew quite well that the information was fabricated.
Mohta mentions in his complaint that ‘… The accused person has not only criminally intimidated me but also caused annoyance and injury to me by putting me in a situation of danger and insult in order to take out his enmity and hatred for reasons best known to the accused person.’ He goes on to mention: ‘The abovementioned accused person, being a person of influential character and a renowned media person has purposely sent such a message in order to harass, threaten and criminally intimidate me. In doing such an act he has committed an offence under Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 66A of the Information Technology Act 2000.’
Mohta mentions in his complaint that ‘… The accused person has not only criminally intimidated me but also caused annoyance and injury to me by putting me in a situation of danger and insult in order to take out his enmity and hatred for reasons best known to the accused person.’ He goes on to mention: ‘The abovementioned accused person, being a person of influential character and a renowned media person has purposely sent such a message in order to harass, threaten and criminally intimidate me. In doing such an act he has committed an offence under Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 66A of the Information Technology Act 2000.’
Shrikant Mohta is one of the two entrepreneurs, along with Mahendra Soni, who jointly transformed Shree Venkatesh Films into one of the biggest media and entertainment houses in eastern India. It is one of the few Indian companies that operates across multiple verticals within the media and entertainment industry. Aveek Sarkar is the editor-in-chief of Anandabazar Patrika and The Telegraph. He is also the chief editor of ABP Group and a prominent media personality of eastern India.
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