Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: A leaked audio recording has ignited a firestorm in Assam. It purportedly captures Prag News owner Sanjive Narain soliciting money from businessman Nayan Ghosh. The demand allegedly aimed to kill a follow-up report on Ghosh, whom the station previously linked to drug trafficking.
Narain denies the extortion claim. He insists the conversation revolved around a Mercedes-Benz sale. Narain operates a dealership in Guwahati. He claims he only learned of the drug allegations after his channel aired the initial report. The audio contains no mention of cars.
In the recording, Narain asks why his own editors dislike Ghosh. He claims to have delayed a second, damaging report. Narain allegedly says he held back the segment because Ghosh would send the bastu, or thing. He tells Ghosh, "Send it quickly."
Ghosh claims the bastu was a bribe. He told reporters he would have his money handler call Narain. Ghosh, currently outside Assam, denies all drug-related charges. He previously claimed he secured a court restraint order against the channel for fabricated reports. Narain plans to sue over the leaked audio and the coverage it generated.
The scandal puts the Assam Police in a tight spot. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma preaches zero tolerance for drug crimes. Yet, the police have not clarified if they probed the initial accusations against Ghosh. Ghosh also claims various police officials forwarded him clips of the negative news segments.
The Guwahati Police Commissioner refused to comment on the matter. Independent investigators must now determine if the audio is authentic. They must also decide if the channel misused its platform for extortion or if the drug claims hold weight. Both scenarios demand accountability.
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