Newslaundry issues statement on IT surveys; says we have nothing to hide

Ground Report | New Delhi: Newslaundry issues statement on IT surveys; News website Newslaundry said on Saturday that they have done everything honestly and will cooperate with the Income Tax Department team that came to conduct a 'survey' of the office.

Newslaundry issues statement on IT surveys

Abhinandan Sekhri, the co-founder of the organization, tweeted on Saturday, writing, “We have nothing to hide and we have done everything according to the law. We have not failed to comply with any law and have not violated any law. We do our business with honesty and integrity."

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Newslaundry has also published its side on its website quoting Sekhri, in which it is written "A team from the Income Tax Department reached our head office in Newslaundry at 12:15 pm on 10th September. According to the paper shown to me, they had come to conduct a "survey" under section 133A. This team left the premises at 12 midnight on 11th September. Went around 40 o'clock.

Nothing to hide

I was told that I cannot speak to my lawyer and I have to give my phone to him. There were about six or seven people in the team and everyone was courteous and professional. I was told that according to the law I would have to cooperate with them without taking legal advice.

He looked and checked all the computer equipment in our office. By taking possession of my mobile, laptop and some machines in the office, all the data in it was downloaded by the IT team. As far as I know this (by taking data from my personal laptop and mobile phone) violates my fundamental right to privacy.

We work with honesty

The Income Tax Department team has come to my office for the second time. This happened for the first time in June. Even then we had fully cooperated with him.

We have nothing to hide and we have done everything as per rules. We are not violating or violating any law. We do our work with complete honesty and integrity. We had given all the documents related to our funding and accounts to the Income Tax authorities in the past as well.” The IT department had also raided the office of another website called Newsclick.

According to news agency PTI, Income Tax Department officials have said that two survey campaigns were conducted at the offices of two news portals to verify the information related to tax payment.

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