'Is This James Bond? Shoot First, Think Later?' : Supreme Court Slams Rajasthan Police For Hasty FIR On Zee Media Complaint

Coming down heavily on the Rajasthan Police, the Supreme Court today quashed an FIR over the offence of extortion registered against former Channel Head of Zee Rajasthan on a complaint filed by the Zee Media company.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta allowed the plea of Ashish Dave, the former Channel Head of Zee Rajasthan, and quashed the FIR. It passed the order after hearing Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal (for petitioner), ASG SD Sanjay (for State) and Senior Advocate Sanjay Jain (for complainant, Sanju Raju on behalf of Zee Media).

The bench expressed "shock" at the registration of the FIR based on allegations which amounted to a mere "story". "We are shocked at the manner in which the FIR was registered. Your Investigating Officer should have made an inquiry. He should have confirmed the allegations and then the FIR should have been registered. Lalita Kumari [case] is applicable to everyone. Which particular allegation of extortion, which particular offense of misuse of his position in the company was setout in the FIR and in the complaint, which required the police station concerned to immediately go for registration of FIR? Without there being any allegation at all! It's all story - all a fictional story", remarked Justice Mehta.

"As vague as possible...all kind of omnibus allegations that he has done this this this...", added Justice Nath.

Severely berating the state, Justice Mehta also commented that the FIR was registered only because the complainant was an affluent agency.

"A common citizen - if he goes to the police station - would you register such an FIR? This FIR contained nothing! Simply because complainant happens to be an influential agency, you registered the FIR just like that! We are making serious comments on the conduct of the Rajasthan police, if you want. What is this FIR? Common citizen if he goes to the police station - he will be thrown out for such allegations. It is a fact you can't deny. [The complainant] was such a privileged [person] that for him, the police opens red carpets...register FIR without there being anything! This is James Bond? Shoot first, think later?", the judge said.

When ASG SD Sanjay claimed that material had been accumulated during investigation, and that the complainant-company had received complaints from builders, doctors, etc. of extortion, the bench noted that not even a single "victim" was named in the FIR or the state's counter. "Point out a single name that this is the person cheated or extorted", said Justice Mehta.

In this regard, the ASG said that he was carrying the case diary (in sealed cover) containing particulars for the Court's perusal, but the bench did not go through the same. "What was the hot haste to register the FIR! Why could you not wait for an inquiry or confirm the allegations?", exclaimed a visibly displeased Justice Mehta.

At one point, the ASG claimed that victims could not approach the police station due fear of the petitioner. On this, Justice Mehta retorted, "that's also a comment on your police".

Quashing the FIR, the bench conveyed that the state can pursue the case, if it is so inclined, by registering another FIR with better particulars. "Such an FIR needs to be quashed. High Court should have done it. If there's a genuine victim, let that victim file an FIR", said Justice Nath.

Briefly put, it was the case of the complainant (Zee Media) that the petitioner misused his position being Head of the media house, by threatening or extorting several persons for which several complaints were received. Based on these complaints, the FIR was filed against the petitioner.

On the contrary, the petitioner urged that not a single victim of alleged extortion had come forth to file the complaint against him. Further, the offence of criminal breach of trust was not made out, since there was no entrustment of property.

In November, 2025, the Rajasthan High Court refused to quash the FIR remarking that "media professionals are expected to avoid causing undue harm to anyone by way of threat or extortion". The Court highlighted that multiple allegations were made against the petitioner accusing him of abusing his authority and demanding monetary favors from the vendors under the threat of broadcasting negative/damaging news content against them.

Case Title: ASHISH DAVE Versus THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN AND ANR., SLP(Crl) No. 19369/2025