Police Raid CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury’s House

The Delhi police have conducted a search at the residence of CPM general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, in connection with the ongoing investigation involving the news portal ‘NewsClick’. The raid occurred simultaneously with searches at the houses of journalists and employees affiliated with NewsClick. The police action was triggered by suspicions of Chinese funding related to the news portal. The search at Yechury’s house was initiated following the discovery that an employee of NewsClick was staying there, despite the fact that Yechury does not reside in the house, which was government allotted.

Allegations against NewsClick include receiving Chinese funding, prompting the special cell of the Delhi police to initiate the raid and register a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Although reports suggest that two individuals, D Reghunandan, a member of the science forum, and standup comedian Sanjay Rajoura, have been taken into custody, no official arrests have been confirmed. The police operation, spanning thirty locations in Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad, has led to the seizure of laptops and mobile phones from the premises.

Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had previously registered a case against NewsClick, alleging the acceptance of foreign funds. The ED’s investigation revealed a misappropriation of foreign funds amounting to Rs 38.05 crore over the past three years. It was further alleged that these funds were utilized for anti-national activities, prompting the police to carry out the search based on the information provided by the ED regarding ongoing illegal activities. As the investigation continues, more details about the case are expected to emerge in the coming days.