New Delhi (SunstarTV Bureau): Over alleged based on evidence of tax fraud, the Income Tax department has conducted raid at several locations of media entity Dainik Bhaskar across the Country on Thursday.
Reportedly, the raids have been conducted at Bhopal, Indore, Jaipur and Ahmedabad offices of Dainik Bhaskar. Meanwhile, the tax department also took place in the residence and offices of the promoters of the group.
Further, raids were also conducted in the office of Bharat Samachar, an Uttar Pradesh based news channel. Search operations were conducted at its Lucknow office and the editor’s residence.
Media reports suggested that the search operations were happened on specific inputs of tax evasion by the Dainik Bhaskar media group. Besides, the media group not only has around 60 editions flagship Dainik Bhaskar newspaper brand across country, but also has major investments in power, real estate and education sector.
The raids come at a time when the media group off late has published a number of stories on the severe impact and the deaths caused by the second wave of Covid-19 and talked about the handling of the situation by the government.
Similarly, Bharat Samachar’s recent reporting has also been critical of the Uttar Pradesh government. The channel has gone on air to say the raid is an attack on free press.