NewsClick China Funding Case: Founder Prabir Purkayastha Arrested

Newsclick Founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha and news portal’s HR head Amit Chakraborty have been arrested in connection with the probe into a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations that it received money for pro-China propaganda.

In a coordinated operation spanning five cities, Delhi Police executed raids on approximately 100 locations associated with the news portal NewsClick. This massive operation, involving around 500 police personnel, has raised eyebrows and ignited a flurry of questions regarding the motivations behind such an extensive crackdown.

The crackdown is said to have started after the The New York Times reported in August of this year on an American businessman’s connections to the Chinese government and his funding of the Leftist propaganda portal NewsClick in India. According to the allegation, a millionaire by the name of Neville Roy Singham was supporting many news outlets around the world (including India) to spread Chinese propaganda.

The Multi-City Raid Operation:

The Delhi Police successfully conducted simultaneous raids in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Lucknow. The targets of these raids included the offices of NewsClick, the residences of its key staff members, and the homes of other individuals and journalists connected to the portal to dig deep and uncover the “Chinese propaganda.”

Allegations and Accusations:

The raids were carried out in connection with allegations of financial irregularities and charges of money laundering against NewsClick. Authorities allege that the news portal had received “Chinese” funding without proper authorization and had not disclosed these funds as required by law.

Seizures and Document Searches:

During the raids, Delhi Police confiscated several electronic devices, documents, and records related to NewsClick’s financial transactions. The search for evidence focused on uncovering possible links between the news portal and foreign entities.

The action by the Delhi Police comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on the home of NewsClick founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha. In February 2021, ED found several suspicious financial transactions and incriminating documents from the residence of Prabir Purkayastha.

A Developing Story:

As investigations continue and more details emerge, the NewsClick raids remain a developing story that raises crucial questions about the balance between journalistic freedom and legal accountability.