India continues to enjoy press freedom, CBI tells New York Times

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Published on: 16 Jun 2017 12:15 PM GMT
India continues to enjoy press freedom,  CBI tells New York Times
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India continues to enjoy press freedom, CBI tells New York Times

New Delhi: The central Bureau of Investigation has taken a strong exception to an editorial in The New York Times which claimed that press in India was " battered", based on a single example of raids on the residential premises of promoters of a news channel , NDTV.

In a letter to the editor, CBI spokesperson R K Gaur, said that the raids were conducted not for any writing but for economic offences. Also that the group was not singled out. The agency has conducted raids on other houses too for such offences.

The letter which was made available on Friday has clarified that these were not the parts of " vendetta" but normal action in case of irregularities. The editorial is headlined " India's battered press".

It has informed the paper that the Central Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating over 100 criminal cases worth a total loan default of over $5 billion. Many of the leading loan defaulters are behind bars, their assets attached, and prosecutions are being pursued vigorously in the court.

RRPR Holdings, the promoter of NDTV, is also being investigated for irregularities in the mobilisation of funds used for loan repayment. There have also been reports of serious defaults in tax payment.

The agency has pointed out that in this entire case due process of law has been followed and urged the paper not to pontificate. " India does not require any lesson on the freedom of the press", the letter firmly believed.

The spokesperson has also not liked the paper dragging Prime Miniser Narendra Modi's name in this case as he had nothing to do with it.

"India has a robust and independent judiciary that strongly protects democratic freedom. An aggrieved person can always approach it", the letter has emphasised.

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