News Broadcasting
Zee News exposé ‘Operation Mani’
Zee News exposé: Operation Money
New Delhi, Feb 04: In an exclusive exposé, Zee News has unravelled the reality of prisons and prisoners in Uttar Pradesh. For the first time in the Indian television history, Zee News has successfully captured the unimaginable state of affairs of the U.P jails on the record.
A prison, as per the dictionary meaning, is a place or condition of confinement or forceful restrains, but not in the Uttar Pradesh. Here, if you are a politician lodged in a jail, especially a close associate of the ruling party, you are not in a forceful imprisonment but in a fiefdom of your own.
In what seems to be a scene from a Hindi film, U.P.MLA Amarmani Tripathi, officially lodged in the jail, is running his business and serving his constituency freely from it.
When Zee News correspondent entered the jail premises, he was aghast to see the situation there. Amarmani was not confined to a prison cell along with other fellow prisoners. Instead, the entire barrack, officially designated to host 24 prisoners, was converted as his courtroom. In the barrack, Amarmani held his ‘darbar’ in which all his supporters came with their list of works and complaints.
When our correspondent sought a favour from Amarmani, he took out his mobile from his pocket- the access of mobile phone to prisoners is officially prohibited- and dialled the concerned official immediately from there in. Not only Amarmani, but also his fellow accomplishes in ‘Madhumita’ murder case had access to everything: mobile sets, liquors and other drugs too. They were also carrying their business as usual
from there. As a result of Zee News exposé, the Central government has sought explanation from the U.P government in the matter.
News Broadcasting
Parikshit Luthra exits CNBC-TV18 after 20-year run
Former bureau chief to take brief pause before next role
NEW DELHI: Senior journalist Parikshit Luthra has signed off from CNBC-TV18, marking 28 February 2026 as his final day and closing nearly two decades with Network18 Media & Investments Limited, including eight years at the business news channel.
During his tenure, Luthra interviewed prominent business leaders and Union ministers, reporting on economic policy, corporate strategy, the automobile sector and financial markets. His coverage spanned key inflection points in India’s economic narrative.
He also led new programming formats such as Newscentre, Global Eye and Global Lens, shows that examined politics and foreign policy through an economic prism, reflecting the channel’s push towards globally linked business reporting.
In a LinkedIn post, Luthra said his final weeks were spent covering the Union Budget, the India AI Summit, India’s trade agreements with the US and EU, and the group’s flagship Rising Bharat Summit 2026. He added that he continued anchoring until his last day and briefly met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his closing assignments.
Luthra joined CNBC-TV18 in June 2018 as assistant editor, later rising to senior editor and chief of bureau, a position he held for over two years. Before that, he worked with Republic TV and CNN-News18.
He said he plans to take a short break before embarking on his next professional chapter.
