Shortly after the news portal PGurus published an article levelling corruption allegations against prominent media figures Raghav Bahl and Peter Mukerjea, the former issued a strong statement dismissing what he described as “inaccurate” and “baseless” claims. “I am absolutely shocked at the unsubstantiated, false and defamatory content of an article published by www.pgurus.com, which links me with a UK-based company, Artevea Digital Limited,” said Bahl, Founder of Network18 & Quintillion Media.
When asked whether he was contemplating initiating legal action against PGurus, Bahl’s office mentioned that they were exploring their options. “After evaluating the situation and as per legal advice, we will take legal action, if the situation so demands,” read an official statement received from Bahl’s office by exchange4media.
Earlier, his press statement urged sections of the media to refrain from disseminating the information provided by PGurus. Those who have already published it were asked to either withdraw it or provide a clarification regarding the same. The article published by PGurus alleged that Bahl and Mukerjea bribed Karti Chidambaram, the son of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, to get certain clearances from the Union Government’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).
“While Peter Mukerjea’s INX paid cash in several installments, Raghav Bahl’s Network18 allotted 60 lakh shares of its London company called Artevea Digital UK Limited to Karti’s firm,” read a report on the website. This is not the first time that PGurus has gone after high profile media leaders. Earlier too, Prannoy Roy-led NDTV has been a regular target of the portal.
In December last year, NDTV ridiculed the website as “Post-Truth Gurus” and accused them of furthering “fake news” devoid of common sense. Previously, former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh alleged that the website was in cohorts with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bhartiya Janata Party. “This website is run from California by one Sree Iyer who is a Modi bhakt and might be related to (Dr Subramanian) Swamy. RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy, one former IIM Professor R Vaidyanathan and Swamy himself are linked to the website,” he had said.