ITV

Tag: CBI

  • Indian citizens trust defence forces and the PM the most: Ipsos survey

    Indian citizens trust defence forces and the PM the most: Ipsos survey

    MUMBAI : The news is not so good for all of us who are part of the media. Our tribe ranks even below the police in terms of the trust that the general public places in it, if one were to go by the results of the quarterly survey, the Ipsos IndiaBus Trust in Institutions, conducted by global research company’s Ipsos India..

    If the fourth estate is held in such low esteem by its primary customer,  the  Indian citizen, do media owners need to go back to the drawing board and do a rethink about their raison d’etre ? That’s question that begs an answer! An honest answer!

    The Ipsos survey revealed that the defence forces (army, air force and navy) are the most trusted  with a score of 56 pr cent, followed by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi who scored 45 per cent positive responses. The RBI came third with a 44 per cent score, followed by the supreme court. 

    Interestingly, all these institutions have improved their scores over the last quarter (in September) and have shown that the citizens have the highest faith in these institutions, as they continue to serve the nation with exemplary dedication and ethical work practices, says a press release issued by Ipsos India. To be fair even us media folks improved our trust score from 24 per cent in September 2024. But we are a far cry from the 36 per cent we notched up in June  2024.

     

    Trust list

     

    Politicians (20 per cent), political parties (21 per cent), community leaders (22 per cent), and religious leaders (24 per cent), have even more reasons to be worried as they continue to lead in the distrust list.

    The survey displayed certain pockets where the most trusted institutions have higher equity among the citizens.

    The defence forces have received higher trust scores among the tier1 citizens (71 per cent), the north zone (69 per cent), the west zone (68 per cent), the employed (67 per cent), tier2 (63 per cent), metros (62 per cent) and males (61 per cent) etc.  

    The PM of the country received highest scores in the north zone (62 per cent), tier1 (57 per cent) and tier 2 (57 per cent) cities, the west zone (52 per  cent), the employed (51 per cent) and males (48 per cent). Whlle the RBI was trusted most by the west zone (61 per cent), tier1 (59 per cent) and tier2 (54 per cent) citizens, the north zone (53 per cent) and the employed (52 per cent). Across these three institutions, they have a common thread of supporters with high trust – though only in the case of the RBI, trust is high in the west zone, Mumbai being the commercial capital of  India.
     

    Parijat chakrabortyIpsos India group service line leader, public affairs, corporate reputation, CSR & ESG Parijat Chakraborty pointed out that the topper  institutions are the backbone of the nation with their word being sacrosanct.  “After all, they have stood the test of time in serving the nation with transparency, equality and justice. All these institutions command respect – whether our defence forces, PM of the country, the RBI, the supreme court of India, the parliament – and their reputation has been built over years of impeccable delivery and service to the nation,” he elaborated.

    According to him politicians, political parties, community leaders, and religious leaders, are institutions that need to win the trust of the masses through greater transparency and fulfilment of their promises to the electorate and patrons on one hand and managing their reputation through visibility around their achievements via communication, not leaving anything to speculation. He highlighted one positive outcome from the survey for them. ”We see recovery in scores to the previous levels, after a dip in September,” he said.

    (For the doubting Thomases who doubt the survey’s authenticity, at least use it as a guide post. Ipsos IndiaBus is a monthly pan India omnibus – which also runs multiple client surveys-  that uses a structured questionnaire and is conducted by Ipsos India on diverse topics among 2200+ respondents from Sec A, B and C households, covering adults of both genders from all four zones in the country. The survey is conducted in metros, tier one, tier two and tier three towns, providing a more robust and representative view of urban Indians. The respondents were polled face to face and online. We have city-level quota for each demographic segments that ensure the waves are identical and no additional sampling error. The data is weighted by demographics and city-class population to arrive at a national average. )

  • CBI takes over investigations from Lucknow Police in TRP manipulation

    CBI takes over investigations from Lucknow Police in TRP manipulation

    NEW DELHI: The latest development in the alleged TRP manipulation row is that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the inquiry into the alleged TRP manipulation case from the Lucknow police, according to officials quoted in a PTI report.

    A case had been registered in the Hazratganj police station of Lucknow after a complaint was filed by a person named Kamal Sharma, three days ago.

    The alleged TRP manipulation scam was first unearthed by the Mumbai police commissioner ParamBirSinghon 8 October. Since then, charges have been flying thick and fast between one of the accused Republic Media and the law keepers. Singh during his press conference had stated three channels including Republic were involved in the rigging. However, the Arnab Goswami led news broadcaster was vehement in its denial of its involvement, saying that the commissioner was indulging in a vendetta campaign. Goswami had also said he would fight the Mumbai police in the courts.

    It even moved the court seeking to quash the FIR lodged by the Mumbai police against it.During the ongoing arguments in court yesterday, advocate Kapil Sibal representing the Maharashtra government and the Mumbai police Police, stated that the FIR has no mention of Republic, hence there is no need to quash it. On the other hand, advocate Harish Salve representing Republic Media, assured that the petitioner will cooperate with the authorities whenever called to do so.

    So far, it seems as if Arnab and Republic are scoring points against the police in this specific case. Will the latter play a hidden card? We can only wait and watch. 

  • CBI books NDTV promoters for FDI violations: report

    CBI books NDTV promoters for FDI violations: report

    MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked promoters of news channel NDTV, Prannoy Roy, Radhika Roy, former CEO and director Vikram Chandra and some Income Tax officials on charges of conspiracy, cheating and corruption. They are being accused of allegedly violating FDI rules between 2004 and 2010.

    As per a report by Hindustan Times, NDTV has dismissed the allegations stating that they are ‘malicious’ and ‘fabricated’ so as to ‘silence free and fair reportage’.

    The CBI is alleging that NDTV colluded with IT officials to bring tainted money into the system through a web of complex transactions through FDI. This was done by floating 32 subsidiaries in various tax havens across the world such as Mauritius, Netherlands, Dubai, UK and Malaysia. The CBI states that NDTV’s London company raised funds worth $120 million from two companies while the Netherlands company raised $150 million from NBCUniversal, which was at the time a subsidiary of General Electric Inc. The money was then routed to different NDTV Group subsidiaries such as NDTV Imagine Ltd, NDTV Life Style Ltd, NDTV Emerging Market BV, NDTV Convergence Ltd and NDTV Labs Ltd.

    NDTV, in a written response, said, “As part of the continued persecution of free press, a new CBI case has been filed about a $150 million investment in NDTV’s non-news business by NBCU, then owned by General Electric, a massive American conglomerate. The case makes the ludicrous charge that the transaction, declared to all relevant authorities in the US and India, laundered money for unknown public servants.”

    “Attempts to silence free and fair reportage through malicious and fabricated charges will not succeed. This is not about a company or individuals but about a larger battle to maintain the freedom of the press, something which India has always been renowned for,” the statement added.

  • 2G spectrum case: CBI acquits all accused

    2G spectrum case: CBI acquits all accused

    Mumbai: A special CBI court today acquitted all accused in the three cases related to the 2G spectrum allocation. The case pertained to graft and money laundering charges against a former telecom minister, politicians, and business executives in the grant of spectrum licences

    Deciding the fate of all accused, including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanithi, the court opined, “Absolutely no hesitation in holding that the prosecution has miserably failed to prove any charge against any of the accused, made in its well choreographed charge sheet.”

    The CBI had claimed that Raja had devised his own way of granting telecom licences, brushed aside the first-come-first-served principle, misled the (then) Prime Minister, disregarded the concerns of other ministries and ran a parallel office at home to grant licences to whosoever offered him gratification.

    The case relates to alleged below-market-price sale of lucrative telecom permits bundled with airwaves in 2008, which a federal auditor said may have cost the government as much as $28 billion in lost revenue.

    In 2012, the Supreme Court ordered 122 licenses held by eight operators to be revoked, declaring the licenses illegal and the process “wholly arbitrary, capricious and contrary to public interest.”

    Also read:

    TRAI wants spectrum cap revised to 35 per cent

    Spectrum payment limit eased, NTP to facilitate data and security 

  • NDTV issues statement on tax demand of Rs 4.3 bn

    MUMBAI: NDTV has issued a statement on the immediate tax demand of Rs 4.3 billion.

    It stated on its web site: “The attempt to intimidate and paralyze NDTV has expanded to epic proportions in the last 24 hours. There are new attacks from the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. In short, there is a three-pronged attack on NDTV by the:

    1) CBI
    2) Enforcement Directorate
    3) Income Tax Department”

    “All three agencies are attacking NDTV over one transaction in which GE, USA, made a US$ 150 million investment in NDTV – a perfectly legitimate and publicly, officially declared investment – which they are calling a “sham transaction,” it stated.

    “Especially shocking is a demand of Rs. 4.3 billion from the Income Tax Department. The Income Tax Department’s letter, (sent today — 27 July), says NDTV has to pay the amount “immediately now” (sic!). A demand for immediate payment without any notice period is unheard of and smacks of sinister motives by the IT Department,” it added.

    NDTV says:

    “The IT department has not even completed the assessment of NDTV as directed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT).

    The ITAT had told the IT Department to make a fresh assessment on no less than four issues. These instructions have been flat-out ignored by the IT Department in rushing its tax demand to NDTV.

    It is unknown in law to make this sort of “partial tax demand” without completing the entire tax assessment.

    Income Tax law only recognises one assessment order – and the IT Department must complete the assessment including the four new factors raised by the ITAT.

    After the ITAT order (based on incorrect facts given by the IT Department), NDTV has, by law, 120 days to appeal. It is shocking that even before the appeal can be filed, the tax department has shown such alacrity in demanding the tax. This is the same Tax Department which dragged its feet for three years, seeking more than 20 adjournments in the ITAT.

    The new urgency reflects instructions to punish NDTV and to issue a warning to the media at large of the consequences of balanced journalism.

    In an undisguised fishing expedition, the CBI has sent NDTV a letter demanding documents from NDTV and its subsidiaries for an unspecified period – this despite NDTV having supplied more than 500 pages of documents only two weeks ago. Strangely, the CBI does not acknowledge the receipt of these documents.

    Separately, the Enforcement Directorate informed the Bombay High Court yesterday that it is investigating NDTV for violations under PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) – it has never, of course, informed NDTV of any such charge. The ED has already spent a good part of the year summoning NDTV management and questioning them repeatedly, without informing the company of what it has done wrong.

    The government is making clear the implications of fearless journalism. Despite the illegal and massive pressure, NDTV will not allow its coverage to be affected by these shameful tactics.”

    ALSO READ :

    Tribunal upholds tax demand, NDTV intends to challenge order

    NDTV moves Delhi HC challenging CBI raids

     

  • NDTV raids not connected with press freedom, says South Asia scribes club

    NEW DELHI: Even as senior mediapersons rallied behind NDTV following raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation and several media bodies held protest meetings, the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia pointed out that the Government and CBI have said the raids had nothing to do with freedom of press.

    In a terse statement, the FCC also pointed out that the Press Club of India and other organisations had not invited it to join the protest rallies. However, it said ‘We are for the freedom of the press.”

    Information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu had last week denied any political interference in the CBI raids on NDTV’s Prannoy Roy, and said that the law would take its own course.

    The CBI had registered a case against the pioneers of Indian television NDTV founder Roy and Radhika Roy for causing an alleged loss to a bank. Searches were reportedly conducted at the residence of the Roys in New Delhi and three other places including Dehradun.

    Naidu had told reporters: “If somebody does something wrong, but simply because they belong to media, you cannot expect the government to keep quiet.”

    Stressing that the media is free and independent, he said the officials were doing their duty. “The CBI might have received some information. That is why they have taken action,” Naidu said.

    Also read :

    Update: No politics in raids at NDTV offices, CBI must have received some info, says Naidu

     

  • Editors come out in support of NDTV

    MUMBAI: Editors of various reputed media organisations and well-known personalities yesterday came out in support of NDTV, the offices of which and residence of promoters were raided by CBI recently. The Press Club of India had organised a meet to protest against the attack on freedom of press.

    Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said, “I believe in the present atmosphere, silence is not an option. This a moment when we have to be on the right side of history.”

    Senior journalist Kuldip Nayar said, “During the Emergency, nobody had to tell anybody what to do. Today, when we are facing more or less the same situation – not (to) that extent – all of us have to ensure we don’t allow anybody to muzzle free speech.”

    Senior journalist Raj Chengappa said: “Any attack or raid is a serious threat particularly if residences and offices are being raided in such a manner.”

    Senior journalist and former minister Arun Shourie said: “I have a couplet for Narendra Modi: He who was occupying this throne before you. He also had a similar belief that he was God. First they used incentives like ads, then a subterranean atmosphere of fear. Now, they are using a third instrument of overt pressure. They have made NDTV an example of that. Anybody who has tried to lay a hand on the press in India, has had their hand burnt. The CBI has not been able to answer the facts put out by NDTV. There is even an article on The Wire. The facts are irrefutable.”

    He added: “We have only three protections: our solidarity, the court, the protection of our own readers and viewers.”

    Former Rajya Sabha Member HK Dua said: “Last time, most of the press community did not stand up. They crawled, as (L.K) Advani famously said. Then came the defamation bill.
    We got together, it became a national movement. (Late prime minister) Rajiv Gandhi sought talks but we refused. The unity of the press won the battle. The bill had to be withdrawn as the people were against (it). Similar signs are visible now. Unless we are united, we can meet the same fate. This is a wake-up call, we have to be vigilant and cautious of such attacks.”

    Jurist Fali Nariman said: “Freedom after speech is what freedom of speech is all about.
    No one is immune from being prosecuted under a criminal offence, but the manner, circumstances give me reason to believe all of this is unjustified attack on press and media freedom. On 2nd of June, an FIR is lodged by the CBI — seven years after the event. Why it was not brought to light earlier was not mentioned earlier in the complaint. The CBI did not bother to find out. The first thing CBI is expected to do, once a such complaint is filed, is seek NDTV’s response. But that wasn’t done.”

    He added: “When any government agency files a complaint against a media company, it must first enquire from the owners what they have to say in the matter before conducting raids. This is not a matter of courtesy or favour, but a constitutional duty.”

    “Whenever there is a majoritarian government, there is this tendency. We must resist it,” he said.

    India Today group editor-in-chief Aroon Purie said: “I strongly believe the freedom of the media is inviolable in a democracy. Such a move also undermines basic tenets of free speech.”

    Senior journalist Shekhar Gupta: “This is an issue that concerns the mother of all our institutions – the free press. This is an assault on the free press. Social media got us all disoriented. I hope NDTV will continue to do what it is doing. Our job is to speak truth to power.”

    NDTV co-founder Dr Prannoy Roy said: Once I went to China, they asked me aren’t you a bit jealous of our skyscrapers? I said we have the best skyscraper: free speech. This is not just a flimsy case against NDTV. It is a signal to all of us: we can suppress you even if you haven’t done anything. Their message is: crawl, or we’ll come for you. I say: Stand up and they’ll never do.”

  • News Broadcasters Association expresses concern over NDTV raids

    MUMBAI: The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has expressed its concern over the recent raids conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the residences of the promoters and office of NDTV, which is a long-standing member of the NBA.

    While the NBA maintained that no individual or institution is above the law, it condemns any attempt to muzzle the media and causing any interference in the free functioning of news operations. Such a move also undermines the basic tenets of free speech enshrined in the Constitution of India, an NBA statement issued NBA secretary-general Annie Joseph added.

    NBA hoped that CBI will not venture into concerted harassment of NDTV/its promoters, and must ensure fair and just investigation by adhering to equity, justice and good conscience.

    The Editors Guild of India had earlier expressed deep concern over the raids conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the offices of NDTV and its promoters on Monday. Entry of police and other agencies into the media offices is a serious matter, it added.

    NDTV had denied any wrongdoing and termed the raids as “stepping up the concerted harassment” of the news channel and an attempt to “undermine democracy and free speech” and “silence the media,” the release stated. While the Editors Guild maintains that no individual or institution is above the law, the Guild condemns any attempt to muzzle the media and calls upon the CBI to follow the due process of law and ensure there is no interference in the free functioning of news operations, the Guild release signed by office-bearers Raj Chengappa, Prakash Dube and Kalyani Shankar stated.

  • Probing NDTV & officials’ collusion to defraud ICICI, not repayment: CBI

    MUMBAI: Reports in a section of the media have raised certain issues and the statement issued by NDTV has levelled certain allegations against the CBI investigation in the case relating to the promoters of NDTV and others, a CBI statement said.

    It is clarified that searches have been carried out at the premises of the promoters and their offices based on search warrants issued by the Competent Court. CBI has not conducted any search of registered office of NDTV, media studio, news room or premises connected with media operations, the statement added.

    CBI fully respects the freedom of press, and is committed to the free functioning of news operations.

    CBI has registered the case based on the complaint of a shareholder of ICICI bank and NDTV after carrying out due diligence. Denigrating the allegations at this stage of investigation and wrongly accusing the agency of acting under pressure is uncalled for and an attempt to malign the image of the CBI. The investigation is being conducted as per the due process of law and under the jurisdiction of the Court of law. The result of investigation will be filed before the competent Court of law based on the evidence adduced during investigation, the statement added.

    It has been mentioned in the statement of NDTV that NDTV and its promoters have never defaulted on any loan. The allegations under investigation are not regarding the default in loan repayment; but relate to the wrongful gain of Rs 48 crore to the promoters – Dr. Prannoy Roy, Radhika Roy, RRPR Holdings Pvt Ltd and a corresponding wrongful loss to the ICICI bank arising from their collusion and criminal conspiracy, the statement added.

    It is alleged in the complaint that the promoters of NDTV, acting in criminal conspiracy with unidentified officials of ICICI bank, violated section 19(2) of the Banking Regulation Act, the Master Circular DBOD No. Dir B90/13.07.05/98-99 dated 28.08.1998 of the Reserve Bank of India and in furtherance of the conspiracy, ICICI bank took the entire shareholding of the promoters in NDTV (nearly 61%) as collateral, and then accepted prepayment of the loan by reducing the interest rate from 19% p.a to nearly 9.5% p.a and as a consequence thereof, causing a wrongful loss of Rs 48 crore to ICICI bank and a corresponding wrongful gain to the promoters of NDTV, the statement added.

    NDTV, in its statement, questions the jurisdiction of CBI by stating that ICICI is a private bank. It is clarified that the Supreme Court, in the case of Ramesh Gelli vs CBI of 2016, held that the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 are applicable to the officials of private banks. Therefore, the CBI has jurisdiction to take up investigation of the cases of private banks, the statement added.

    CBI is committed to carrying out the investigation expeditiously and in accordance with the due process of law.

  • Editors Guild urges CBI to follow process of law, NDTV confirms loan repayment

    MUMBAI: The Editors Guild of India, in a press release issued on Monday night, expressed deep concern over the raids conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the offices of NDTV and its promoters today. Entry of police and other agencies into the media offices is a serious matter, it added.

    NDTV, in various statements, has denied any wrongdoing and termed the raids as “stepping up the concerted harassment” of the news channel and an attempt to “undermine democracy and free speech” and “silence the media,” the release stated. While the Editors Guild maintains that no individual or institution is above the law, the Guild condemns any attempt to muzzle the media and calls upon the CBI to follow the due process of law and ensure there is no interference in the free functioning of news operations, the Guild release signed by office-bearers Raj Chengappa, Prakash Dube and Kalyani Shankar stated.

    Updated NDTV statement: It is shocking that the CBI conducted searches on the NDTV offices and residence of the promoters without even conducting a preliminary enquiry. The CBI has been compelled to file an FIR based on a shoddy complaint by a disgruntled former consultant at NDTV named as Sanjay Dutt, who has been making false allegations. So far, he has not obtained a single order from any of these courts.

    Legal analysts are astounded that where courts have rejected giving any order in all these years, the CBI conducts raids based on what is a private complaint. The allegation appears to be for a loan which has been repaid by Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy more than seven years ago.

    Even though crores of rupees of dues have not been paid by several industrialists and no criminal case has yet been registered against any of them by the CBI, the CBI has chosen not only to register an FIR, but also conduct a search for a loan which has been duly repaid to ICICI Bank. The allegation that no disclosure was made to SEBI and other regulatory authorities is not only incorrect but also does not clothe the CBI with any power to register cases and search which further amplifies the fact that the search by the CBI is only a witch-hunt against independent media.