Newsclick Raids: 500 cops, 25 questions, 100 locations- Top updates of Delhi Police crackdown amid China fund allegation

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Delhi Police also raided the homes of several of NewsClick journalists, in what critics are describing as an attack on one of India's few remaining independent news outlets. NewsClick was founded in 2009. The portal has gained the reputation as a rare Indian news outlets that is willing to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his brand of politics.

Reportedly, a number of other news organizations have been investigated for financial impropriety under Modi's Hindu nationalist government, as international monitors warn that press freedom is eroding in India. Earlier today Delhi Police, on Tuesday, acted on the information provided by Enforcement Directorate, and raided 24 locations in the national capital, NDTV reported. Electronic devices like mobile phones and laptops were seized and five journalists were taken for further questioning.

Some journalists, including Urmilesh and Abhishar Sharma, were taken to the Lodhi Road Special Cell office for questioning. “Delhi police landed at my home. Taking away my laptop and phone," journalist Abhisar Sharma wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Another journalist, Bhasha Singh, wrote on X, "Finally last tweet from this phone. Delhi police seizure (sic) my phone." Among those raided were historian Sohail Hashmi. His sister, Shabnam Hashmi, posted on X, "Today, early morning at 6 am, Delhi Police's special cell raided Sohail Hashmi's residence.

6 people barged into the house and the bedroom." The raid by Delhi Police on NewsClick offices and journalists started from 6 am at over 100 places in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Mumbai. Teams from all ranges of Delhi Police Special Cell were including 500 cops are deployed in this raid. PTI reported that they