NDTV in trouble as CBI raids Prannoy Roy’s residence, media stunned

Various press bodies on Tuesday expressed “deep concern” over the CBI raids at the residence of NDTV founder Prannoy Roy, saying they condemn any “attempt” to either “intimidate the media” or put curbs on its freedom.

“We express grave concern over the raids conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)… on the premises of NDTV promoters. While we maintain that all individuals and every institution have to abide by the law of the land, we condemn any attempt to either intimidate the media or put curbs on its freedom,” President of the Press Club of India, Gautam Lahiri said.

According to PTI news report, The Central Bureau of Investigation had on Monday searched the residence of Roy in New Delhi and three other locations for allegedly causing losses to a private bank, a move termed by the NDTV as a “witch-hunt” based on “same old” false accusations.

In a strongly-worded statement, the umbrella press body also said, “We hope that all facts of the case, filed by the CBI, will be placed in public domain and the investigating agency will not harass the media organisation or place any kind of hindrance in the news operations of the channel.”

The Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) alleged that the law of the land should not “apply selectively” nor should it be “used as an instrument to harass anyone including the media”.

Expressing “deep concern” over the raids, it said, “A statement issued by NDTV seems to suggest that these raids and police entry were ‘arbitrary and unwarranted’. Although no one is above the law, arbitrariness and intimidation undermine institutions of democracy and faith in law enforcement agencies. ”