Delhi Police Seals UNI Office Amid Controversy Over Media Freedom

The Delhi Police's recent sealing of the United News of India (UNI) office has sparked significant controversy regarding media freedom in India. Following a High Court ruling, police arrived at the premises with a substantial force, leading to allegations of mistreatment of staff and a lack of due process. The current owners of UNI condemned the action as an unprecedented attack on press freedom, raising alarms about the implications for journalism in the country. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and media agencies, prompting discussions about the state of press freedom in India. Read on to learn more about this unfolding situation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 21, 2026, 10:33 IST

Police Action Against UNI Office

On Friday, the Delhi Police executed a sealing order at the office of the United News of India (UNI), citing directives from the High Court. The media agency condemned this action as an unprecedented assault on media freedom, alleging mistreatment of their female staff by the police. However, Sachin Sharma, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), assured reporters that all legal protocols were followed and that the entire operation was recorded on video, negating any claims of misconduct.

Following the dismissal of a petition challenging the High Court's decision to revoke the land allocation to the news agency, police arrived at the Rafi Marg premises with a significant security presence to initiate the sealing process. This situation arose from an order issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which instructed the agency to vacate the premises due to the cancellation of the land allocation.

The High Court upheld the decision to revoke the license, rejecting the agency's petition. The current owners of UNI, The Statesman, characterized the police's actions as an unprecedented violation of media freedom in India. They expressed their concerns on social media, stating that the police's aggressive approach towards the office of one of the country's oldest news agencies was so severe that it could overshadow even anti-terrorism operations.

Furthermore, it was reported that employees were not given adequate time to gather their belongings or communicate with management. The management was excluded from the premises while staff members faced aggression inside. UNI raised alarms on social media about the implications of sealing their office, emphasizing the serious concerns regarding press freedom in the country.