Editors Guild expresses "deep concern" over CBI raids on NDTV

The Editors Guild of India has expressed its “deep concern” over the raids conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the offices of NDTV and its promoters – Prannoy and Radhika Roy – yesterday, June 5, 2017. 

In a statement issued, the Editors Guild called the entry of police and other agencies into the media offices a “serious matter”. The statement added, “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 CBI has registered a case against NDTV and its Co-promoters Prannoy and Radhika Roy for causing alleged loss to ICICI Bank. 

Reacting to the case and the raids, NDTV in various statements issued called them “witch-hunt by multiple agencies” and maintained, “NDTV and its promoters have never defaulted on any loan to ICICI or any other bank”. Moreover, it called the raids a “blatant political attack on the freedom of the press”. 

In a statement issued to the BSE and NSE, NDTV said, “CBI has filed an FIR based on a complaint by a private individual – a disgruntled former consultant at NDTV called Sanjay Dutt – who has been making false allegations.” 

The statement further said, “The allegation appears to be for a loan which has been repaid by Dr Prannoy Roy and Mrs Radhika Roy from ICICI Bank more than 7 years ago. There are documents to support that fact that the loan was repaid in full.”

Social media was abuzz with conversations on CBI raiding Prannoy Roy's assets. Here is what the talks were all about: