New Delhi: The Central Government has said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated an investigation against Reporter channel in the Muttil tree cutting case. Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, Rao Inderjit Singh, said that the ED will investigate the authorities of Reporter for black money laundering act related to illegal cutting and selling of trees worth Rs.8 crore.
The Registrar of Companies has also sought information from channel authorities regarding the ownership transfer of Reporter. The old telecasting license of Reporter was under the name of Indo-Asian News Channel Private Limited. There is uncertainty whether the telecasting license of the Indo Asian News Channel Private Limited was handed over to the new company that is now telecasting the Reporter after ownership transfer. The Corporate Ministry has asked the new owners of Reporter to clarify these doubts.
The Central Labour Ministry has also found out that the channel has an arrear of Rs.137.50 lakhs related to complaint of salaries to the employees, PF and other benefits.
The Ministry of Information and Boardcasting has revealed that the current authorities of Reporter have not submitted any application for the transfer of telecasting license.
Rao Inderjit Singh was replying to a question raised in Lok Sabha by K Sudhakaran.
The channel was launched in 2011 with MV Nikesh Kumar as the CEO of the channel. Nikesh Kumar is a popular media person in Kerala and the son of Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader, MV Raghavan.
Nikesh Kumar had contested the Assembly Elections in 2016 on CPI(M) ticket from the Azhikode seat in Kannur district.
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