GECs
Campaigning on the web? Get a certification, says EC
NEW DELHI: The world has gone digital and so has the Indian political system. With more and more political parties using social media for election campaigns, the election commission (EC) has now directed the chief electoral officers of all states and union territories that details of the social media accounts of the candidates (besides the recognised political parties) who are contesting elections have to be communicated to the commission.
Candidates and political parties will now have to keep the EC posted about their social media accounts and websites used for campaigning, expenditure incurred for maintaining the sites and development of advertisement. Besides, the model code of conduct will also become applicable on the social media.
According to the commission, a candidate having an account on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or even apps, has to update the commission with their email ids.
The EC has also stated that campaigning on the web will require pre-certification from competent authorities. No political advertisement can be released to any internet-based website, including social media sites without this pre-certification. This certificate is issued by the media certification and monitoring committees at the district and state level.
Not only this, candidates and political parties in the statement submitted to the EC have to include all expenditure incurred on advertisements on social media. This includes: payments made to internet companies and websites for carrying their advertisements, money paid for developing such content for the web, as well as salaries and wages paid to the workers employed to maintain the social media accounts.
The commission has also stated that the model code of conduct will be applicable to the content posted on the internet. However, the commission will consult the Communication and Information Technology Ministry on the content posted by persons other than the candidates and political parties.
GECs
Sebi sends show-cause notice to Zee over fund diversion, company responds
Regulator questions 2018 letter of comfort and governance lapses; company vows robust legal response
MUMBAI: India’s markets watchdog has reignited its long-running scrutiny of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issuing a sweeping show-cause notice that drags the broadcaster and 84 others into a widening governance storm.
The notice, dated February 12, has been served by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to Zee, chairman emeritus Subhash Chandra and managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, among others. At its heart: allegations that company funds were indirectly routed to settle liabilities of entities linked to the Essel Group.
The regulator’s probe traces its roots to November 2019, when two independent directors resigned from Zee’s board, flagging concerns over the alleged appropriation of fixed deposits by Yes Bank. The deposits were reportedly adjusted against loans extended to Essel Group entities, triggering questions about related-party dealings and board oversight.
A key flashpoint is a letter of comfort dated September 4, 2018, issued by Subhash Chandra in his dual capacity as chairman of Zee and the Essel Group. The document, linked to credit facilities availed by certain group companies from Yes Bank, was allegedly known only to select members of management and not disclosed to the full board—an omission SEBI believes raises red flags over transparency and governance controls.
Zee has pushed back hard. In a statement, the company said it “strongly refutes” the allegations against it and its board members and will file a detailed response. It expressed confidence that SEBI would conduct a fair review and signalled readiness to pursue all legal remedies to protect shareholder interests.
The notice marks the latest twist in a saga that has shadowed the broadcaster since 2019. What began as boardroom unease has morphed into a full-blown regulatory confrontation. The final reckoning now rests with SEBI—but the reputational stakes for Zee, and the message for India Inc on governance discipline, could scarcely be higher.
