National Investion Agency snoops in Kochi All India Radio, quizzes staff

The NIA team questioned Ms Aradhana, a member of the panel of causal artistes of AIR unit in Kochi, in connection with the incident.

The action of NIA, having serious implications for media freedom, was confirmed to DC by a top AIR official in Kochi.

"NIA officials visited the AIR office in Kakkanad on July 22 and asked for some of the tapes of Samakalikam bulletins, anchored by Ms Aradhana and we gavev them the copies”, he said.

Ms Aradhana, an empanelled artiste of AIR, producing Samakalikam for the past four years, said she was questioned by a 4-member NIA team, including a woman, on July 3.

"The NIA team came to my house at Keezhilam near Perumbavoor in the last of week of June, stating they wanted to question me to gather some information in connection with a case in Maveilkara in which few persons were arrested for their alleged links with Maoists while having a meeting at a local hotel in 2013.

“Since they have not served any formal notice I declined to cooperate with them. The team then returned with the notice on July 3 and questioned me for nearly 90 minutes. Although they said the purpose was to gather information about the Mavelikara case, they have not asked me anything about it but focused on my work in AIR”, said Ms Aradhana.

On why NIA zeroed in on her, she said that her brother Ajayan was one of the persons arrested in connection with Mavelikara case. “My brother was arrested one year ago and he is on bail now. But, I have no clue why the NIA came for me. I have no association with activities of Maoist outfits or any other organisations”, she said.

The Samakalikam programme, originally of 10-minute duration, now reduced to 8 minutes, handles topics of contemporary interest, said Ms Aradhana. “Any topic with contemporary relevance is featured in the programme”, she said. On her being removed from the panel following the incident, Ms Aradhana said she had not received any intimation from authorities concerned.