Policeman visits The Wire office in Delhi, DCP says routine checking ahead of I-Day

The Wire is one of 16 media organisations around the world who are partnering with the French nonprofit Forbidden Stories and human rights group Amnesty International in a global investigative project centred on a database of numbers that may have been targeted with spyware.

Siddharth Varadarajan, editor of The Wire, posted on Twitter: “Not just another day at the office for The Wire… after Pegasus project, Policeman arrived today with inane inquiries. ‘Who’s Vinod Dua?’ ‘Who’s Swara Bhaskar?’ ‘Can I see your rent agreement?’ ‘Can I speak to Arfa?’ Asked why he’d come: “Routine check for Aug 15” Strange.”

Not just another day at the office for @thewire_in after #PegasusProject

Policeman arrived today with inane inquiries. ‘Who’s Vinod Dua?’ ‘Who’s Swara Bhaskar?’ ‘Can I see your rent agreement?’ ‘Can I speak to Arfa?’

Asked why he’d come: “Routine check for Aug 15”

Strange. pic.twitter.com/jk0a2dDIuS

— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) July 23, 2021

When contacted, DCP (New Delhi district) Deepak Yadav said, “Routine checking related to August 15 is going on in the entire district.”

Yadav also responded to Varadarajan’s tweet, “In the run up to Independence Day, security and anti-terrorist measures such as tenant verification, checking of guest houses, etc are being taken throughout Delhi. Local beat officer had gone to verify an office which didn’t bear any signboard at the entrance.”

In the run up to Independence Day,security and anti-terrorist measures such as tenant verification,checking of guest houses etc are being taken throughout Delhi.Local beat officer had gone to verify an office which didn’t bear any signboard at the entrance. Please see the photo. pic.twitter.com/tmQObWIXmq

— DCP New Delhi (@DCPNewDelhi) July 23, 2021

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Ahead of August 15, security has been beefed up in Delhi-NCR with multi-layered arrangements and strict vigil at the borders. Apart from this, agencies like NSG, SPG and ITBP have been put on high alert. Over 45,000 security personnel will be guarding the city on Independence Day besides over 2,000 snipers deputed at specific locations on high-rises in around 5 km periphery of the Red Fort.