New Delhi: There are reports of Delhi Police raiding the houses of several journalists associated with news website NewsClick on Tuesday morning.
People who have received salaries or remunerations from NewsClick are under the scanner. Laptops and phones of journalists whose homes were searched today have been seized for further probe.
A police officer confirmed the raids were being carried out but declined to comment on whether the action was in continuation of an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe or the special cell has filed a fresh case.Police sources said more information about the searches will be shared later.
The Press Club of India said, “The raids on the homes of journalists and people associated with Newsclick are extremely worrying. We are keeping an eye on the matter. We stand with the journalists and demand from the government to provide more information.
Raids are going on at more than 30 places
Raids are going on at more than 30 places related to NewsClick. There is no news of anyone being arrested in this case so far and the response of Delhi Police is awaited.
Journalist Abhisar Sharma said in a tweet that Delhi Police had reached his house. He said the police took away his laptop and phone.
Journalist Bhasha Singh wrote on social media, "This is my last tweet from this phone. Delhi Police has confiscated my phone.
No arrests have been made so far, but sources said some journalists have been taken to police stations for questioning.
Union Minister had targeted Rahul Gandhi citing NewsClick
This news portal was in discussion even in August. Citing this website, Union Minister Anurag Thakur had targeted Rahul Gandhi.
He had alleged, "Chinese goods have started appearing in Rahul ji's fake love shop."
The Union Minister alleged that propaganda against India was carried out as per an agenda.
Anurag Thakur had said in August, "In 2021 itself, we revealed about NewsClick how foreign hands are against India, how foreign propaganda is against India. And in the Anti India, Break India campaign, Congress and opposition parties came out in its support."
He had then alleged that Chinese companies were funding NewsClick through Neville Roy Singham but their salesmen were Indians. And when the Indian government took action against the news website, they came in their support.
ED had begun probe
Some time ago, this news portal was accused of taking funding from China and ED had registered a case and started investigation.
NewsClick's editor Prabir Purakayastha had then hit out at the crackdown against the news portal. "These investigations by various agencies, and these selective allegations, are attempts to stifle the independent journalism of media organisations - including NewsClick. The Constitution of India under Article 19(1)(a) guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression, a right central to our work," he had said.
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