Noida Police on Tuesday arrested two prominent journalists—Shazia Nisar of Bharat 24 and Adarsh Jha from the digital wing of Amar Ujala—in connection with a high-profile extortion racket allegedly targeting the management of Bharat 24 news channel. The racket, according to officials, involved a staggering ₹65 crore demand, reported the Free Press Journal.
The arrests came after multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed by senior executives of Bharat 24, including the Managing Director, Consulting Editor Anita Hada, and HR Head Anu Sridhar. The complaints allege that the duo made repeated threats of filing false criminal cases, including allegations of sexual harassment and rape, if their monetary demands were not met.
During a police raid at Nisar’s residence, authorities recovered ₹34.5 lakh in cash. Both accused were presented before the Civil Judge (Junior Division-II), Gautam Buddha Nagar, who remanded them to 14 days of judicial custody till June 21, 2025.
Senior advocate Deepak Chauhan, representing the prosecution, confirmed that FIRs have been lodged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to blackmail, threats, and criminal intimidation.
In a dramatic turn during the court hearing, Shazia Nisar reportedly disrupted proceedings and accused the police of misconduct. The judge took serious note of these claims but maintained the decision for judicial custody given the gravity of the allegations and the evidence submitted, including audio and video recordings of the extortion attempts.
Nisar had joined Bharat 24 in 2022 after a brief stint with Zee Salam, reportedly on the recommendation of Adarsh Jha. However, her tenure was marked by internal conflicts and alleged threats to colleagues. What began as an alleged ₹5 crore extortion attempt eventually escalated to ₹65 crore. Reports also suggest that the journalists had threatened to ruin reputations through false legal charges if their demands were not met.
Sources say the police are now probing deeper to ascertain whether other media professionals or digital influencers may also be involved in this wider blackmail network.
This case has sent shockwaves through the media fraternity and raised serious concerns about ethics and internal accountability in newsrooms.
