Days after writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ‘malicious campaign’ by Subramanian Swamy against NDTV, the news channel’s co-founder and executive co-chairperson Prannoy Roy has hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party MP on Twitter calling him a ‘liar’.
In a tweet on Friday, 16 February, Swamy alleged that Roy may ‘escape’ to Cape Town, South Africa and he has asked Enforcement Directorate and Income-Tax Department through a letter to PM to issue a Look Out Notice against the media baron.
To which, Prannoy Roy replied in all caps, “Liar Swamy at it again.”
Earlier on 12 February, in the letter to the prime minister, Roy had alleged that Swamy’s ‘outrageous’ allegations that NDTV is involved in money laundering with US-based companies GE and NBC, hurt India, freedom of press and foreign direct investment (FDI).
Mr Swamy, through various unethical and dubious methods has ensured that the finest US corporations - GE and NBC (America’s most-respected media organisation) - are being accused of “money laundering” and indulging in “sham transactions” with NDTV. These outrageous accusations are being made by India’s Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department.Prannoy Roy in a letter to the PMO
The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader has consistently accused the news channel and Prannoy Roy of massive fraud and corruption and has been a strong critic on Twitter.
In the letter, Roy further said the allegations by Swamy are a shame for the nation and will damage India’s reputation at a time when the country is seeking foreign direct investment.
For ED and the IT department (where the officers are under relentless pressure from Mr. Swamy and his cohorts), to accuse these two leaders of being involved in money-laundering with NDTV is a shame on our nation... At a time when you are seeking more Foreign Direct Investment for India, this sort of wild baseless charge is damaging India’s reputation.Prannoy Roy
In the letter, Roy invoked the meeting of PM Modi himself with the CEO of GE, Jeff Immelt, and said, "You will agree that these industry leaders are full of integrity and vision".
In June, last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against NDTV co-founders Prannoy Roy, Radhika Roy, a private company and others, for allegedly causing losses to a private bank. On 5 June 2017, searches were carried out at least at four locations in New Delhi and Dehradun, including Roy’s residence in the national capital.
NDTV had termed the raids as “a series of unsubstantiated allegations” and called it an attempt at “subterfuge”.
(This story was updated on 16 February with Prannoy Roy’s tweet)
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