Sony’s serious script for India is now a farce

Sony Group Corp. thought it had a strong script to woo audiences in the world’s most populous nation, but the merger that was going to make it the leader of India’s television entertainment market was doomed from the start. By pursuing it for almost two years, the Japanese company has become an unwitting actor in a farce. It should cut its losses and walk.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India alleged last week that Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., the Mumbai-based media house Sony wants to combine with, had faked the recovery of loans owed by its founder Subhash Chandra’s private entities.