News Broadcasting
Zee News issues Rs 1.5 bn defamation notice to Naveen Jindal
NEW DELHI: Zee News has sent a Rs 1.5 billion defamation notice to industrialist Naveen Jindal, saying that he wrongly accused the news channel of blackmailing and extortion and attempted to deflect attention from his alleged role in the coal allocation scandal.
In a statement on Saturday, it said: “Zee News has condemned and completely rejected the doctored evidence produced by Jindal. Zee News sees this as a deliberate attempt to malign the trustworthy (news) television network.”
The news network further stated: “Zee News has granted a three-day time period to Naveen Jindal to withdraw all his unsubstantiated and defamatory allegations, failing which he would face civil and criminal actions initiated by Zee News.”
It may be recalled that Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) has also filed a police case against Zee News.
The Broadcast Editors’ Association (BEA) on Thursday suspended its treasurer and editor of Zee News Sudhir Chaudhary, who features in the Jindal video tapes, following a complaint by Jindal, who is also a Congress member of parliament.
At a press conference on Thursday, Jindal showed a video recording of meetings with Zee TV executives and claimed this to be proof that they were trying to extort money from him. Jindal said the TV channel told his company’s executives that if they did not spend Rs one billion on advertising on the channel, it would run stories about how Jindal’s firm was allocated coal fields.
Jindal said the “extortion attempt” was caught on a hidden camera and he released CDs of this footage to reporters. The ‘reverse sting’ was carried out between 13 and 19 September over four meetings in different locations in Delhi.
But Zee News said that “it has always been the forerunner in exposing Naveen Jindal’s double standard as a politician and an industrialist in Coalgate scam. Zee News clearly understands that it is to suppress the coverage that Zee News was telecasting on Coalgate, that the corporate communications team from Jindal Steel and Power Limited first tried to bribe Samir Ahluwalia with Rs 250 million, which he declined straightway, and later was offered a Rs one billion advertising deal to stop the coverage of Coalgate scam.”
It has also alleged that attempts by “right thinking media houses including Zee News to bring out the truth in the Rs1,860 billion Coalgate scam are being muzzled by Mr. Naveen Jindal by distorting the truth and defaming those on the righteous path.” It also cited the Comptroller and Auditor General report that has named JSPL as one of the beneficiaries of the allocation that was done bypassing auctions.
“Zee News has always been in pursuit of seeking the truth in the Coalgate scam, and has had several interactions with Jindal and his officials. We accuse Jindal and JSPL of maligning the name of Zee News since they chose to display an edited/doctored CD where only selected portions were shown. Jindal has a history of unfairly targeting those who dare to confront him with the truth,” the statement said.
The statement added: “We are of the view that similar false allegations have been made by Naveen Jindal and his officials against Zee News in a police complaint and we see it as subversion of the due process of law. Clearly, we see this as an attempt to prejudice and defame us and to overreach the investigation in this regard and have hence sent a defamation notice to JSPL and Naveen Jindal.”
The statement goes on to assert that Zee News is undeterred by such diversionary tactics adopted by Jindal and JSPL and would stay focused on unraveling the ultimate truth in the Coalgate scam and have only taken this route to counter the allegations made.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
