CBI raid sparks howls of India press freedom under threat

Washington

INDIA'S Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday raided the home and offices of top television executives Prannoy and Radhika Roy, co-founders of news channel NDTV, which has often clashed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. In response, the network put out scathing statements and broadcasts, saying the raids amounted to a "witch hunt" and "a blatant political attack on the freedom of the press". The raids were conducted in connection with loans from ICICI Bank taken out by the Roys, starting in 2008.

The network said that the loans have been repaid, and it issued a document that appears to confirm their claim. "NDTV and its promoters have never defaulted on any loan to ICICI or any other bank," read a statement posted on NDTV's website. "We adhere to the highest levels of integrity and independence. It is clearly the independence and fearlessness of NDTV's team that the ruling party's politicians cannot stomach and the CBI raid is merely another attempt at silencing the media.""In American media, it is considered patriotic to question and make the government accountable, here to be patriotic is to just agree with everything the government says," said Mr Roy, speaking to The Washington Post.