According to the report by The Wire, sources within the media group confirmed that those raided included owner Prabir Purkayastha and editor Pranjal.
Residences of several officials and journalists associated with NewsClick.in, an independent media portal based in Delhi, were raided by Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday morning.
According to the report by The Wire, sources within the media group confirmed that those raided included owner Prabir Purkayastha and editor Pranjal. According to The Hindu, ED also conducted searches at the office of Newsclick in Delhi’ Saidulajab.
The ED, as reported by The Quint, said the raids on NewsClick were linked to an alleged money laundering case and the agency was probing funding the organisation had received from “dubious companies” abroad.
Abhisar Sharma, who hosts two popular shows on the Youtube channel of Newsclick, also confirmed the news of raids being conducted.
Mr Sharma said: “ED raid at Newsclick.in ‘s office & Directors/Shareholders home since 10am this morning. @newsclickin. This is where I do my shows Bol ke lab aazaad hain tere and Newschakra.”
ED raid at https://t.co/WK95HKtJzE 's office & Directors/Shareholders home since 10am this morning. @newsclickin . This is where I do my shows Bol ke lab aazaad hain tere and Newschakra
— Abhisar Sharma (@abhisar_sharma) February 9, 2021
Journalists and activists raised question over the raids.
Siddharth Varadarajan, the founding editor of The Wire, said: “Sedition cases, UAPA, FIRs for 153, 505, etc, frivolous defamation suits and now ED raids, this is how the government handles India’s independent media. @newsclickin is the latest target.”
Sedition cases, UAPA, FIRs for 153, 505, etc, frivolous defamation suits and now ED raids, this is how the government handles India’s independent media. @newsclickin is the latest target… https://t.co/RSsMLOqTfK via @thewire_in
— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) February 9, 2021
Social activist Shabnam Hashmi also voiced similar views. She said: “ED raid at Newsclick.in ‘s office & directors’ home. Newsclick consistently stands in Solidarity with #PeoplesMovement has given coverage to working class, farmers, workers issues along with exposing corrupt corporates, which very few dare to touch. Strongly condemn.”
ED raid at https://t.co/wsuSsYrUk0 's office & directors' home. Newsclick consistently stands in Solidarity with #PeoplesMovement has given coverage to working class, farmers, workers issues along with exposing corrupt corporates, which very few dare to touch. Strongly condemn.
— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) February 9, 2021
DIGIPUB News India Foundation (DNIF), an association of digital-only news ventures and freelancers, issued a statement after the raids.
The DNIF, condemning the raids conducted by ED, said Newsclick has always upheld the highest standards of journalistic integrity and speaking truth to power.
“We demand that the government stop the ED action against NewsClick forthwith and make clear why the news organisation has been raided to begin with,” the DNIF said.
DIGIPUB News India Foundation strongly condemns the raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate at the office of @newsclickin, and the homes of its directors and Editor Prabir Purkayastha. pic.twitter.com/vz9Syb4gJF
— DIGIPUB News India Foundation (@DigipubIndia) February 9, 2021
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