After not showing up for questioning despite two notices, the former TV9’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ravi Prakash has sought ten more days to appear before the cops for investigation. The Cyberabad police are investigating a case of forgery and cheating against the former CEO of Associated Broadcasting Company Private Limited (ABCPL).
The police had asked Prakash to visit the Central Crime Station (CCS) office based on a notice issued to him under Section 160 (Police officer' s power to require attendance of witnesses) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for questioning. Prakash and others were to appear before the police investigating the case on Saturday but they were a no -show.
A second notice was served under section 41 of the CrPC that deals with arrest without warrant and set restrictions, and Prakash was to appear for questioning on Wednesday. He had, however, failed to inform the police about his whereabouts.
Sources told The New Indian Express that Prakash and actor S Sivaji, his co-accused have written to the Cyberabad police seeking 10 days time to appear before them for questioning. While Prakash had sought time on health grounds, Shivaji cited personal reasons.
A fresh case has also been filed against Prakash for alleged diversion of funds from TV9 to another media house Media Next.
A week ago, the Board of Directors of ABCL publicly announced that it was sacking its founder following which Prakash submitted his resignation and made a scathing attack. On Friday evening last week, the directors of ABCL announced that Prakash has been removed as the CEO, after Prakash had said on air the day before that he was still the CEO of TV9 and was not ‘absconding’.
According to the Board, the duo failed to declare the appointment of the new Board of Directors with the Registrar of Companies and allegedly removed the Company Secretary by forging his signature to stall the appointment of the new Directors.
In his letter, Prakash alleged that the Board were representatives of political honchos “who are out there to devour ‘every’ journalist and independent media house today.”
Ravi Prakash continues to be a shareholder in the company. He has been replaced by Mahendra Mishra, who has been appointed as the interim CEO.