The Indian media industry was left stunned this week after Noida Police arrested two well-known journalists on charges of blackmail and illegal extortion. The individuals in custody are Shazia Nisar, an anchor with the news channel Bharat 24, and Adarsh Jha, formerly associated with the digital division of Amar Ujala.
14-Day Judicial Custody Ordered
The arrests were made early in the morning following an FIR lodged by Bharat 24‘s management. The duo was presented before Civil Judge (Junior Division-II) Juhi Anand in the Gautam Buddha Nagar court, which subsequently remanded both accused to judicial custody until June 21, 2025.
₹34.5 Lakh Seized During Search Operation
Prior to the arrest, Noida Police raided Shazia Nisar’s residence, where they reportedly recovered ₹34.5 lakh (approx. $41,000 USD) in cash, allegedly linked to the blackmailing operation.
Courtroom Drama and Accusations Against Police
During the court hearing, Shazia Nisar created a scene, leveling serious allegations against the police. Senior public prosecutor Deepak Chauhan stated that the case is registered under FIR No. 195/2025 and involves multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Three Separate FIRs Filed by Channel Officials
So far, Bharat 24 has filed three separate FIRs in connection with the case. The complaints have been submitted by:
- The Managing Director and Group Editor
- Consulting Editor Anita Hada
- HR Head Anu Sridhar
Each complaint points to a similar pattern — threats of false allegations followed by demands for large sums of money.
A Relationship Turned Sour?
According to sources, Adarsh Jha had helped Shazia Nisar secure a job years ago at Zee Salam, under then-executive director Dr. Jagdeesh Chandra. Although Shazia left the channel after a few months, she later reconnected with Dr. Chandra in November 2022 to rejoin Bharat 24. Insiders say her behavior soon became erratic and confrontational, leading to repeated clashes with HR and editorial staff.
Between March and September 2023, she was reportedly absent without notification. She rejoined on September 11, 2023, promising to improve — but the situation only worsened.
Extortion Demand Reached ₹65 Crore
On April 14, 2025, Shazia allegedly threatened on a phone call to file false allegations of sexual harassment and rape unless her demands were met. What began as a ₹5 crore demand eventually escalated to a staggering ₹65 crore (approx. $7.9 million USD). Police claim to have both audio recordings and video evidence of the blackmail attempts.
Adarsh Jha was reportedly an active participant in the scheme. Both he and Shazia traveled to Jaipur for an in-person meeting with Dr. Chandra, which was secretly recorded and is now in police possession.
Family Members Implicated
The FIRs filed by Anita Hada and Anu Sridhar also name Shazia’s mother, Naseem Bano, accusing her of participating in inappropriate behavior and making unreasonable demands at the channel’s office — alongside repeated threats of false allegations.
Police Expanding Investigation Into Larger Network
Noida Police are now probing whether other journalists or social media influencers are involved in this alleged extortion ring. The scope of the investigation has widened, with technical teams analyzing recordings, chats, and additional digital evidence.
