Special prosecutors on Thursday raided the cell of a detained power blogger and his two accomplices charged with rigging online political news comments, kicking off their probe in the politically sensitive case in earnest.

The blogger, Kim Dong-won, better known by his nickname Druking, and his co-workers are currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center, south of Seoul.

Investigators also raided residences and offices of two attorneys involved in the case, independent counsel Huh Ik-bum's team said. The team questioned Kim later in the day.

Huh was appointed by President Moon Jae-in early this month and officially launched the inquiry on Wednesday.

Druking and his team manipulated Internet comments on news stories in a bid to affect public opinion on hot-button political issues. He frequently contacted Kim Kyoung-soo, a former aide to Moon who was elected South Gyeongsang Province governor on June 13. (Yonhap)