IT Dept 'surveys' offices of NewsClick, Newslaundry in Delhi in tax case

New Delhi: Income Tax officers visited the offices of news sites NewsClick and Newslaundry today, calling it a "survey" and not "raids".

The Income Tax department confirmed that its officers had gone to the offices of the news portals in south Delhi "to conduct surveys".

The surveys are linked to allegations of tax evasion, officials said, adding that the account books of the portals are being examined.

News agency PTI quoted officials as saying the operation was to verify certain tax payment details and remittances made by the organisations.

The officials visited the business premises of the two portals, they added.

According to a Newslaundry employee, the taxmen came around 11.30 AM and haven't left. "Employees in the office were asked not to use their cell phones," the employee alleged.

NewsClick and its founders were raided by the Enforcement Directorate in February in a money laundering case following a Delhi Police FIR that alleged the company had received foreign direct investment (FDI) of ₹ 9.59 crore from Worldwide Media Holdings LLC USA in the financial year 2018-19.