One of India’s largest newspaper publishers, the Dainik Bhaskar, which has about 60 editions, was hit with an Income Tax department raid on July 22. Multiple offices of the Hindi daily, across states was raided by Income Tax officials. Dainik Bhaskar was at the forefront of the COVID-19 coverage and has been unabashed in calling out the Modi government’s mismanagement. A local news channel in Uttar Pradesh, Bharat Samachar was also hit with an IT Raid with the firm’s office, and the editor’s home being searched. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot called the IT raids an attempt to stifle the free voices of the press in the country.