New Delhi: Amid heavy police deployment, UNI news agency office at Delhi was sealed by the Land and Development Office of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (L&DO) on Friday following a high court order — a move the media organization termed an “unprecedented atrocity” and “attack on media freedom”.
The news agency also claimed that their female staff members were under control by the police team.
However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma told PTI that due process was followed and there was no wrongdoing as everything was filmed.
Police reached the premises of United News of India (UNI) on Rafi Marg in full force to carry out the sealing process after the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition filed by the news agency challenging the cancellation of its allotment of land.
The case related to an order issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO), which had asked the news agency to vacate the premises.
According to the L&DO, the allotment, which was made in 1979, was canceled in March 2023 after the news agency failed to build the office in the last 40 years, despite multiple reminders, in violation of the terms stipulated in the allotment letter.
The high court on Friday upheld the cancellation, rejecting the news agency’s claim that the delays were caused by financial constraints and pending approvals, and cleared the way for authorities to take possession of the premises.
The Statesman, the current owner of UNI, called the police action “unprecedented atrocities” and an “attack on media freedom in India”.
“In an unprecedented atrocity and attack on media freedom in India, the Rafi Marg office of the country’s oldest news agency, United News of India (UNI), was literally stormed by a police force that would put an anti-terror operation to shame.
“Employees were not even given time to collect their belongings or hear from management. Management has been left out and employees are being beaten in,” the Statesman said in a post on X.
UNI, in a post on X, said, “The sealing of the office of United News of India (UNI), one of the country’s oldest and most respected news agencies, has raised serious concerns about press freedom. In a purported video shared by X, a female staff member is seen allegedly manhandling a woman journalist during a confrontation. The footage shows the journalist losing her balance, after which she falls to the ground.
Meanwhile, a person in the background is heard objecting, saying, “Ye kya kar rahi ho madam, haath-pair toot jayega (What are you doing madam, it might cause an injury)” and “Ye kya tareeka hai (What is this behaviour)”.
UNI alleged that its staff members were forcibly evicted, with some not allowed to take their personal belongings, and women journalists searched by Delhi Police teams.
“Several Delhi Police personnel were reportedly drunk while on duty. Two lawyers and Delhi Police personnel allegedly abused several individuals,” the agency said.
“The premises at 9, Rafi Marg, New Delhi have been taken over by the Government of India on 20.03.2026 in accordance with the judgment dated 20.03.2026 of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. Any entry, occupation or use of the said premises shall be read and read strictly according to a strict operation of law and without authorization of any person. the notice attached to the office of the news agency.
Officials at the HUA Ministry said the allotment, made in 1979 for the construction of a composite office complex, was canceled by the L&DO in March 2023 after due process, including a show cause notice.
Following the court order of 20 March 2026, physical possession of the land has been taken over by the government. The court found that UNI committed a fundamental violation of the terms of the allocation by failing to construct the building for more than 40 years, the ministry official said.
Despite multiple extensions, UNI did not finalize plans, enter into agreements with co-allotters, or begin development. He also noted UNI’s admission of financial incapacity and lack of purpose, the official said.
It is further pertinent to note that the land, measuring approximately 5,289.52 square meters at 9, Rafi Marg, has an estimated value of around Rs 409 crore at the prevailing indicative land rate of Rs 7,74,000 per square meter, underlining the high value of the asset.
“Despite the continued occupation of such prime government land, no land rent has been paid by UNI for decades, reflecting continued non-compliance with financial obligations under the allotment,” officials at the HUA ministry claimed.
The court observed non-cooperation in joint development with stakeholders such as the Press Council of India, along with instances of unauthorized commercial use and attempts to lease out portions of the land, the statement added.
Transferring control to a private entity after bankruptcy proceedings was called an unauthorized change, altering the original intent of the division.
The court held that the partition was conditional, not absolute, and its cancellation was justified in the public interest to prevent misuse of public land.
