Income Tax dept not taking editorial decisions as a part of probe, clarify officials

In Madhya Pradesh, where Dainik Bhaskar’s headquarters is located, officials had searched the business as well as residential premises of the promoters of the media group.

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23 Jul 2021, 1:17 pm

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The Income Tax Department, which conducted raids against the media group Dainik Bhaskar in multiple cities over alleged tax evasion, on Thursday rubbished allegations that the officials were suggesting changes in stories and taking editorial decisions during their search on offices of a certain publication.

"In keeping with the Department’s protocol, the Investigation team only looked into the financial transactions of the group related to tax evasion," Income Tax officer said in another tweet

"Shri Om Gaur is based in Lucknow as per his interview to media. It is emphasized that Lucknow office of the publication was not searched by the Income Tax team. Sh Om Gaur was not even questioned. The allegations being made have no basis & in fact seem to be highly motivated," the twewt further read.

Amid allegations by the opposition parties over the Income Tax raids on media groups Dainik Bhaskar and Bharat Samachar, the government on Thursday said the agencies do their job independently without any interference

Read Also : Opposition slams Tax raids at Dainik Bhaskar group, says "Brutal attempt to stifle democracy"

The raids were conducted on several offices of the newspaper across Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. In Madhya Pradesh, where Dainik Bhaskar’s headquarters is located, officials had searched the business as well as residential premises of the promoters of the media group.

Dainik Bhaskar had widely reported on the second wave of Covid-19 and its devastating effects. In a series of reports, the newspaper was critical of the Centre’s claims on vaccination figures, underreporting of deaths, floating bodies in Ganga river and the toll due to oxygen shortages.

“This article has been published after the the officials who have come for the raids,” the statement said. “The officials in Dainik Bhaskar’s office have instructed us to show them every news article before publishing.”