CBI raids residence of NDTV founders in criminal conspiracy, cheating case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday carried out searches at the residence of NDTV founders Prannoy Roy and his wife Radhika Roy. The CBI has accused the Roys and NDTV of criminal conspiracy and cheating and causing a deliberate loss of Rs 48 crores to ICICI Bank.

In a statement, NDTV alleged that the CBI raids are a witch-hunt based on false allegations.

"The CBI raids are a blatant political attack on the freedom of the press. The CBI has filed the FIR based on a shoddy complaint by a disgruntled former consultant Sanjay Dutt. Courts have so far not passed any order on Dutt's complaints so why has CBI raided NDTV based on the same complaint" it said.

It also said the loan to ICICI Bank was fully repaid in 2010.

The CBI has not filed criminal complaints against industrialists who owe banks lakhs of crores, it said.