Tax Raids At Media Group Dainik Bhaskar, Bharat Samachar

New Delhi: Income Tax raids took place at offices of the media group Dainik Bhaskar and Uttar Pradesh-based Bharat Samachar this morning. The Dainik Bhaskar group has been accused of tax evasion, say sources.

Some 100 taxmen searched around 30 locations of Dainik Bhaskar in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The homes and offices of the group’s promoters were also raided.

A senior editor of Dainik Bhaskar told NDTV that raids were on at the group’s Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bhopal and Indore offices.

An Uttar Pradesh television channel, Bharat Samachar, was also raided. An Income Tax team searched the Lucknow office and also the editor’s home to examine tax documents, according to sources.

The sources claimed the raids were based on “conclusive evidence of tax fraud” by the channel. Bharat Samachar’s recent reporting has been critical of the UP government.

The opposition alleged that the raids were linked to reports on Covid ‘mismanagement’ by the government. 

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called it a brutal attempt to stifle democracy.

“Through its reporting Dainik Bhaskar has exposed the Modi regime’s monumental mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now paying the price. An Undeclared Emergency as Arun Shourie has said – this is a Modified Emergency,” tweeted Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot called it a brazen attempt to suppress the voice of the media.