CBI raids NDTV channel premises

June 5th 2017-06-05
In what was a first of its kind action taken without any court order, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday searched the offices and home of NDTV founder Prannoy Roy over allegations of defrauding ICICI bank.
NDTV denounces raid as a “witch-hunt” to muzzle free speech
Condemning the attack in strong language, NDTV issued statement saying “We will not succumb to these attempts to blatantly undermine democracy and free speech in India.” It also clarified that the loan was repaid by the channel owners 7 years ago.
The statement also read, NDTV and its promoters have never defaulted on any loan to ICICI or any other bank. We adhere to the highest levels of integrity and independence. It is clearly the independence and fearlessness of NDTV’s team that the ruling party’s politicians cannot stomach and the CBI raid is merely another attempt at silencing the media.”
Editors Guild condemns CBI raids
The Editors Guild of India condemned the CBI raids in no uncertain terms. In a press release , they said,

The Editors Guild of India expresses its deep concern over the raids conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the offices of NDTV and its promoters today. Entry of police and other agencies into the media offices is a serious matter. NDTV, in various statements, has denied any wrong doing and termed the raids as “stepping up the concerted harassment” of the news channel and an attempt to “undermine democracy and free speech” and “silence the media.” While the Editors Guild maintains that no individual or institution is above the law, the Guild condemns any attempt to muzzle the media and calls upon the CBI to follow the due process of law and ensure there is no interference in the free functioning of news operations.
The raids also come within a few days after an NDTV anchor asked a BJP spokesperson to leave her program, after he repeatedly accused the channel of being anti-BJP. Today the BJP spokesperson boycotted the channel and did not appear to opine about the ongoing farmers protest.