JAIPUR - A tense courtroom atmosphere hung over Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand’s bench this week as arguments stretched across two days, with both sides sharply contesting whether an FIR against Ashish Dave - former Channel Head of Zee Rajasthan/24 Ghanta - should survive. The High Court, after poring through thick bundles of the company’s internal communications and multiple complaints, ultimately refused to quash the FIR, calling the allegations “serious enough to merit full investigation.”
Background
Dave, who headed editorial and operational decisions at Zee Media’s Jaipur unit, is accused of misusing his position to demand money from vendors and individuals by threatening “negative news coverage.” The FIR (No. 257/2025, Ashok Nagar Police Station) invokes Sections 308(2), 318(4), and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita - offences broadly covering extortion-style threats, fraud, and coercive misuse of authority.
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The company claims various third-party complaints started reaching its top management, alleging that Dave used the channel’s name to coerce payments, and in some instances, negative content was allegedly aired or circulated to apply pressure. These allegations are detailed extensively in the FIR itself.
Court’s Observations
During arguments, Dave’s counsel insisted no “real victim” came forward and called the FIR a result of corporate rivalry after his employment ended. He cited Bhajan Lal and several quashing precedents, arguing that the FIR did not disclose any cognizable offence.
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The State and complainant pushed back strongly, maintaining that the FIR reflects a “pattern of coercion,” and that the Court should not conduct a “mini-trial” under the guise of quashing - a phrase the bench echoed repeatedly.
At one point, Justice Dhand remarked, “The FIR is not expected to be an encyclopedia. Whether the allegations are ultimately true is a matter of investigation.”
The court examined witness statements recorded under Section 180 BNSS, where several individuals reportedly confirmed monetary demands and threats of negative broadcast. But the judge deliberately refrained from recounting those details, noting that doing so might prejudice either side.
The order leans heavily on precedents like Neeharika Infrastructure, Dineshbhai Patel, and Kaptan Singh, all cautioning High Courts against prematurely stepping into factual evaluation. Justice Dhand emphasized that quashing is reserved for the “rarest of rare cases,” and “this is certainly not one.”
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Decision
Concluding the 22-page order, the Court held that the FIR clearly discloses cognizable offences and investigation must proceed unhindered. The judge stated:
“It cannot be said that the allegations do not constitute any offence. Whether they are true or false is a matter for investigation, not for this Court at this stage.”
The petition to quash the FIR was dismissed, with a small concession - Dave may file a representation if he believes the investigation lacks fairness, and the IO must consider it as per law. The decision ends at this directive, making it clear the Court has stepped aside to let the investigation run its course.
Case Title: Ashish Dave vs. State of Rajasthan & Anr.
Case No.: S.B. Criminal Misc. Petition No. 5786/2025
Case Type: Criminal Miscellaneous Petition (seeking quashing of FIR)
Decision Date: 26 November 2025