Sanjay Khanagwal, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Patiala House Court, New Delhi, vide its order dated 31-03-2014 dismissed the application filed by Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor and Business Head, Zee News for directions for trial, transfer, clubbing and consolidating together two cases viz. proceedings in the charge sheet filed against Subhash Chandra, Sudhir Chaudhary and Samir Ahluwalia of Zee News limited by Crime Branch Delhi Police in relation with FIR Number 240 of 2012 lodged by Jindal Steel and Power limited for the offences of extortion of Rs 100 crore against said persons by Jindal Steel and Power limited, a press communiqué of JSPl stated.
While dismissing said application, the court held that issue relating to joint trials of two cases forming part of same transaction can be ascertained only on framing of charges. Clubbing of the cases in one court is not going to serve any purpose. Only at the proper stage, applicant can agitate this issue of clubbing of the trial. Otherwise also, in view of law laid down by the Supreme Court, even if the trial is taking place separately of the offense committed in a series of acts is also not illegal. In the present case, it would be premature to jump to conclusion that the offences alleged are not same transaction or of same kind. In view of above, the present application is not maintainable and is dismissed accordingly.