New Delhi: Journalists who were raided by the Delhi police on the morning of October 3 in connection with an ‘anti-terror’ investigation were questioned about whether they had reported on matters like the 2020 Delhi riots, the farmers’ movement against the Modi government’s laws and the COVID-19 crisis.
Several journalists and commentators associated with the online news portal NewsClick were taken to the Delhi police’s special cell for questioning. The residences of many others were raided, and the police seized devices such as laptops and phones without providing seizure memos with a hash value – a number unique to the precise data on the device at the time of its seizure which courts can refer to in the event of accusations of tampering against the police.
Veteran journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, who was taken to the special cell’s office at around 8 am and released around 6 pm on Tuesday, revealed the line of questioning that the police adopted. He was asked if he had called a US number which belongs to his brother-in-law and if he uses the Signal messaging app. He wasalso asked if he had covered the Delhi riots and the farmers’ protest.
“What has happened is in the public domain. They may call me again,” said Guha Thakurta, who is known for his investigative reports on the Adani Group’s dealings and crony capitalism in India.
He said the officials asked him whether he had covered Delhi riots. “I said no but then they asked me whether I reported on farmers protests. I said yes. There were many people questioning me. All of them asked different questions,” he said.
A senior journalist who freelances for NewsClick told The Wire that a six member team comprising at least one inspector rank official of the Delhi police’s special cell landed at their house with search notices that mentioned sections of the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). “They already had all my information – my phone number, my address, and my online activity. They remained polite but persistently questioned me about my association with NewsClick. I told them about the work that I do for the news portal.”
“They kept asking me about my reports on the Delhi riots, the farmers’ protests, and the COVID-19 pandemic,” the journalist said, asking not to be named. Most of the journalist’s reports on these issues highlighted the government’s failures and missteps.
“I still don’t know what are the charges against me, if there are any. I haven’t received any FIR. But they took away my phone and laptop.”
The police raided the journalist’s house for over two hours.
A junior member of Newsclick‘s editorial team told The Wire that she was asked if she was “paid extra” for stories on the farmers’ protest and the Delhi riots. “They also wanted to know why I wrote stories against the country and government. They had no follow up questions, just a performa that they were reading from,” the employee told The Wire.
She was surprised when the police arrived at her home at 6 am and raided the place for three hours. “While taking away my electronic devices and my passport, they told me 96 places have been raided,” she told The Wire.
The case against NewsClick is apparently based on a New York Times report that says the portal received funding from an American millionaire who has furthered Chinese talking points. The NYT report was highlighted by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey in the Lok Sabha, who claimed that the portal and Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi received funds from China to create an “anti-India atmosphere”.
However, it is unclear what charges have been levelled against the individuals who were raided or questioned. The search notice used by the police on Tuesday list charges under various sections of UAPA, conspiracy (section 120 B, IPC) and promoting enmity between different groups (153 A).
Abhisar Sharma, who was also questioned by the Delhi police special cell’s headquaters, said on Wednesday that the police also asked him similar questions – if he had covered the Delhi riots, farmers’ protest and the protest against CAA-NRC at Shaheenbagh. He was also asked if he spoke to anybody in Poland, the UK and Australia.
Note: Abhisar Sharma’s reaction was added to this article after it was published.