Income Tax Department conducts ‘survey’ of Newslaundry, Newsclick offices on allegations of alleged tax evasion

New Delhi: The Income Tax Department (IT) had conducted a survey on the official premises of two digital media platforms – Newslaundry and Newsclick – on charges of alleged tax evasion.

The agency said it conducted the survey at the offices of two news organizations located in south Delhi to check their financial records.

The “survey” by the Income Tax Department began around noon on Friday and continued till midnight at the offices of two news websites deeply critical of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre.

Newslaundry is also known for its brutally honest satirical news shows – Newsense and Tipani – which often tease pro-centre channels. Both websites are among the founders of DigiPub News India Foundation, a consortium of online news outlets, which this year challenged the Centre’s proposed rules on online media.

The Income Tax Department said in a release that separate ‘survey’ operations were conducted on the two news portals to verify certain tax payment details and remittances made by the organisations.

As part of a survey operation conducted under section 133A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the tax authorities cover only the business premises of an assessee and those connected therewith and not their residential address.

However, they are authorized to confiscate documents, computers and electronic devices as part of a sudden action. Around 30 NewsClick employees and support staff were in the office during the entire survey and their phones were temporarily confiscated, and they were not allowed to use their computers and work, it said.

In February, the Enforcement Directorate searched premises linked to NewsClick in connection with an alleged money laundering probe into receiving funds from abroad.

Meanwhile, expressing concern over income tax surveys conducted at the offices of two news websites, the Editors Guild of India criticized the move, saying independent media should stop the dangerous trend of “harassing and intimidating government agencies”. Because it undermines constitutional democracy. .

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Choudhary also reacted to the developments through a tweet on his Twitter handle.

The Guild said, “The Guild is deeply concerned that such indiscriminate seizure of journalists’ data, which may include sensitive information such as details of sources, stories under work, and other journalistic data, can protect freedom of expression and the press.” a violation of liberty.” an official statement.

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