CBI Raids NDTV Founder Prannoy Roy’s Residence

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday raided NDTV founder Prannoy Roy's residence here and registered a case against him and his wife for causing alleged loss to a bank.

The CBI registered the case against Roy, his wife Radhika Roy, a private company and others and conducted searches at Roy's Greater Kailash-I residence in south Delhi. "Searches are being conducted today (Monday) at four places including Delhi and Dehradun," CBI spokesperson R.K. Gaur said. The agency has registered a case against Roy, his wife Radhika and RRPR Holdings for allegedly causing losses of Rs 48 crore to ICICI Bank, CBI sources said. They said the agency was conducting searches at four places in the national capital and in Dehradun.

NDTV Shares Shed 7%; Hit One-year Low On CBI Searches

Shares of NDTV slump nearly 7 per cent after the CBI searched the residence of its founder Prannoy Roy here and three other locations for allegedly causing losses to a private bank. The stock tanked 6.74 per cent to Rs 58.10 -- its 52-week low -- on BSE. At NSE, shares of the company dived 6.88 per cent to hit a one-year low of Rs 58.15.

NDTV has termed the exercise a "witch-hunt" based on false accusations. "This morning, the CBI stepped up the concerted harassment of NDTV and its promoters based on the same old endless false accusations," NDTV said in a statement.

It said NDTV and its promoters would fight tirelessly against this witch-hunt by multiple agencies.

NDTV Raid Aimed At Silencing Anti-establishment Voices: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday condemned a CBI raid at NDTV founder Prannoy Roy's residence here over an alleged bank loan default and said it was an attempt to "silence anti-establishment voices".

"We strongly condemn raids on (Prannoy) Roy and NDTV group. It's an attempt to silence independent and anti-establishment voices," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said in a tweet.

No Political Interference In NDTV Raids: Venkaiah Naidu

There was no political interference in the CBI raids on NDTV founder Prannoy Roy's properties, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said while stressing that the law was taking its course.

"If somebody does something wrong simply because they belong to media, you cannot expect the government to keep quiet," Naidu told reporters. The officials were doing their duty and there is no political interference in this, he said, adding that media was free and independent in the country. "The CBI might have received some information. That is why they have taken action," Naidu said.

Mamata Expresses Shock Over Searches At Prannoy Roy's House

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the CBI searches at NDTV founder Prannoy Roy's New Delhi residence and three other locations for allegedly causing losses to a private bank.

Banerjee described Roy as "highly respected and reputed" and said the trend of conducting such search operations was "disturbing". "Shocked at the raids on Dr @PrannoyRoyNDTV's house. He is highly respected and reputed. Disturbing trend," Banerjee tweeted.