Sanjay Pugalia

Sanjay Pugalia is an Indian journalist. He began his career with leading Hindi daily Navbharat Times in 1982. As a young correspondent he filed a number of investigative reports involving big corporate houses between 1986-91. By way of recognition he was the youngest person to be made special correspondent in the Times Group. During his stint with the Times Group he was known for his insights into politics-business nexus. It was this skill that he used while covering India's first stock market boom and subsequent securities scam engineered by Harshad Mehta in the early 1990s.

Business Standard was his next destination where as Deputy Bureau Chief he helped shape the political reporting of the leading pink daily. His appointment as associate Executive Producer with newly launched Hindi television show Aaj Tak in 1996 came to be the most demanding break of his life. The challenge brought out the best in him. From the Kargil War to WTO negotiations in Seattle, he has reported on diverse issues. Moreover, his live anchoring of election programmes made him one of the leading lights of Indian television. Media critics predicted that Surendra Pratap Singh, the person who conceptualized Aaj Tak, finally got one worthy heir. By then, he had already become a household name.

Zee News was his next challenge. Success of Aaj Tak robbed the shine off Zee News. It was now up to Mr. Pugalia, the Executive Editor, to restore Zee News' preeminence. This he did with the help of some innovative programming. It was here that he introduced a range of interactive concepts like live chaupals, on location anchoring etc. During his tenure at Zee News, the channel's coverage of WTC attacks and Vajpayee-Musharraf's Agra summit got accolades from all. When Star TV planned to have its own 24-hour news channel, he was roped in as its News Director in July 2002. At STAR News, he gave a new dimension to news coverage by bringing in consumer-centric news in prime time shows. In April 2004, he joined CNBC-TV18.

Moreover, all through 1990s, he extensively contributed to BBC Hindi Service's programmes. The association with BBC brought into focus his witty and sharp analyses of Indian politics, society, business and media. He gave his views on Mandal Commission agitation, Babri Masjid demolition, securities scam.