"Delhi police landed at my home. Taking away my laptop and Phone…," 

Abhisar Sharma, Journalist

"Finally last tweet from this phone. Delhi police seizure my phone."

Bhasha Singh, Journalist

Early Tuesday morning, the Delhi Police Special Cell walked into the homes of several journalists, a comedian, a scientist and a historian and took some away for special interrogation.

The tweets of two journalists above, Abhisar Sharma and Bhasha Singh, provide a real-time glimpse into what unfolded in the early morning hours in Delhi.

These raids are said to be related to a case involving the dreaded UAPA Act (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and FIR number 224/2023, filed on August 17, 2023, which are usually slapped on those promoting enmity between groups and criminal conspiracy.

Besides Abhisar Sharma, Newsclick web portal editor Prabir Purkayastha, journalists Urmilesh and Aunindyo Chakravarty were taken away by Delhi Police, while journalists Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Anuradha Raman, historian Sohail Hashmi, writer Githa Hariharan and scientist D Raghunandan were interrogated in their homes. In Mumbai, activist Teesta Setalvad is being interrogated. Electronic devices like mobile phones, hard disks and laptops were seized.

The current FIR is rooted in an August report by the New York Times, which was cited by a BJP MP to claim that Congress leaders and NewsClick had received funds from China to create an "anti-India" atmosphere.

The Press Club of India and the Mumbai Press Club have issued statements of concern.