Searches at Raghav Bahl's premises indicate clampdown on free press: Amnesty International

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International India Thursday expressed concern over the Income Tax department's search at media baron Raghav Bahl's residence and office, saying it indicates a "clampdown on free press".

"The Income Tax Department's 'search' on Quintillion Media Private Ltd, which runs a news website - 'The Quint', and the homes of its owners, Raghav Bahl and Ritu Kapoor, indicates a clampdown on free press," Amnesty International India said in a statement.

"It raises disturbing questions on whether the news website is being targeted for speaking truth to power. It appears that the authorities are attempting to silence anyone expressing views that are critical of the government," it alleged.

A team of I-T sleuths raided the premises of the founder of The Quint in Noida early Thursday, looking for documents and other evidence related to a case of "bogus long-term capital gains (LTCG) received by various beneficiaries".

Apart from Bahl, premises of three other "beneficiaries" and professionals, J Lalwani, Anoop Jain and Abhimanyu, were searched.