Government sources have clarified that the recent FIR lodged with Delhi Police in connection with the leakage of information of inquiry conducted by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is not aimed anyway at silencing the media, but for identifying those responsible for leaking confidential information from FSSAI.
The FIR, registered against “unnamed,” persons does not target any individual journalist or outlet. Instead, it aims to trace the culprit believed to be behind the unauthorized release of sensitive data from FSSAI’s office.
Officials revealed that FSSAI had itself initiated a suo motu inquiry into recruitment-related complaints, which is still underway. The final report has not yet been submitted. However, portions of the ongoing inquiry are suspected to have been leaked by certain individuals to some social media handles. According to sources, such leaks compromise the integrity of the process of investigation by alerting potential wrongdoers before the report is finalized and necessary action is considered.
Delhi Police, upon detecting dissemination of inquiry-related information by some online platforms, has begun acting in accordance with the law. The investigation, officials emphasized, is focused on safeguarding the inquiry’s credibility and ensuring that those attempting to sabotage it are held accountable. The source further clarified that such leakages jeopardise the investigation process.
