Upendra Rai is an Indian journalist and writer. He is working as CEO and Editor-in-Chief at Sahara India Media. He has worked as CEO and Editor-in-Chief at Tehelka. Earlier he has also been with Sahara News Network as its Group CEO and Editor-in-Chief, looking after the functioning of Sahara Samay Channel along with Samay UP/ Uttarakhand, Samay Bihar/Jharkhand, Samay MP/CG, Samay Rajasthan, Aalami Samay and Rashtriya Sahara Hindi Daily. He resigned from Sahara News Network in June 2016 and started his own media house, 'The Printlines Media Group' as its Chairman and Editor-in Chief.
He started his career as a correspondent in the year 1997 with Sahara News Network while pursuing his graduation at University of Lucknow. In October 2002 he joined Star News then in August 2004 he joined Network 18 where he worked as the member of launching team of CNBC Awaaz/CNBC TV18. He later joined Star News again in year October 2005 as Principal Correspondent, where he did path-breaking stories related to Taxation, Business, Politics and Entertainment. In November, 2009 he moved to Sahara News Network as Editor and News Director. However he left Sahara News Network in 2016 and started working as CEO and editor-in-chief of Tehelka. In September 2019 he came back to the fold of Sahara News Network again as its Senior Advisor. Upendra Rai did many big stories while working with star news. He unearthed dmat account scandal in October 2005. Likewise, he broke the story of stud farm owner Hasan Ali in January 2007, which resulted in government agencies actions on Ali.
Criminal Charges
Upendra Rai was arrested and charged with money-laundering, extortion and dubious money transactions to the tune of 100 Crore by the CBI. He is also accused of forging documents to get access to aerodromes. He is known as a "power-broker". According to CBI officers, in 2017, Rai’s bank accounts showed credits of Rs 79 crore and debits of Rs 78.51 crore. Rai was arrested by the ED after he managed to get bail in the same case by the CBI, on June 8, 2018. The judge granted ED seven days custody of Upendra Rai.. He is currently on bail after spending 13 months in jail. He is not allowed to leave the country. The bail matter is going on in the Supreme Court of India
