News Analysis India

Tag: Newsclick

  • NewsClick founder Purkayastha, HR head Chakravarty sent to 10-day judicial custody

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: A city court on Tuesday sent NewsClick founder and editor Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty to 10-day judicial custody under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case slapped by Delhi Police allegedly connected to a case of funding to the latter’s news portal for “spreading” pro-China propaganda.

    As the Police pressed for the accused persons’ judicial custody for 10 days before Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hardeep Kaur, Purkayastha’s counsel Arshdeep Khurana vehemently opposed the Delhi Police’s charges, asking how his client as a journalist doing a critical or impartial act of journalism about the government can become any of the unlawful activities.

    The counsel argued that all the journalistic works of his client are in the public domain.He submitted that there is no allegation that they “used bombs, dynamite or any other explosive substance,” as there is a requirement of a ‘terrorist act’ under 16, 17 and 18 of the UAPA act.Khurana also argued that not a penny has come from China as fund as the police claimed while terming the FIR as “absurd.””There is no such allegation that there is a map of India, published by NewsClick, that shows India without Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.On the other hand, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Srivastava opposed the argument saying the accused persons were not merely criticising the government but propagating the propaganda of a country that is inimical to us.APP also argued that the case was at a stage when evidence was still being collected, and the prosecution sought judicial custody for the accused in all ”fairness”. Chakraborty’s counsel submitted that his client is only an HR head and not involved in the publication of any news on the website.

    Notably, the Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on the pleas moved by Purkayastha and Chakraborty challenging their arrest, remand, and the FIR registered under UAPA.Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Purkayastha had informed the high court that Delhi police has till now not provided him with the grounds for arrest.The arrest of NewsClick founder Purkayastha and HR chief Chakraborty on October 3 comes after the Delhi Police searched 30 locations connected with the online news portal and its journalists in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations that it received money for pro-China propaganda.According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal came from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country.

    NEW DELHI: A city court on Tuesday sent NewsClick founder and editor Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty to 10-day judicial custody under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case slapped by Delhi Police allegedly connected to a case of funding to the latter’s news portal for “spreading” pro-China propaganda.

    As the Police pressed for the accused persons’ judicial custody for 10 days before Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hardeep Kaur, Purkayastha’s counsel Arshdeep Khurana vehemently opposed the Delhi Police’s charges, asking how his client as a journalist doing a critical or impartial act of journalism about the government can become any of the unlawful activities.

    The counsel argued that all the journalistic works of his client are in the public domain.He submitted that there is no allegation that they “used bombs, dynamite or any other explosive substance,” as there is a requirement of a ‘terrorist act’ under 16, 17 and 18 of the UAPA act.Khurana also argued that not a penny has come from China as fund as the police claimed while terming the FIR as “absurd.””There is no such allegation that there is a map of India, published by NewsClick, that shows India without Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.On the other hand, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Srivastava opposed the argument saying the accused persons were not merely criticising the government but propagating the propaganda of a country that is inimical to us.
    APP also argued that the case was at a stage when evidence was still being collected, and the prosecution sought judicial custody for the accused in all ”fairness”. Chakraborty’s counsel submitted that his client is only an HR head and not involved in the publication of any news on the website.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Notably, the Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on the pleas moved by Purkayastha and Chakraborty challenging their arrest, remand, and the FIR registered under UAPA.Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Purkayastha had informed the high court that Delhi police has till now not provided him with the grounds for arrest.The arrest of NewsClick founder Purkayastha and HR chief Chakraborty on October 3 comes after the Delhi Police searched 30 locations connected with the online news portal and its journalists in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations that it received money for pro-China propaganda.According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal came from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country.

  • NewsClick case: Police FIR names lawyer Gautam Bhatia, cites his ‘legal defence’ for Xiaomi and Vivo  

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has mentioned the name of constitutional lawyer Gautam Bhatia as a “key person” in the FIR against arrested NewsClick editor Prabir Purkayastha, stating his defence in the legal cases for Chinese Telecom majors Xiaomi and Vivo.The First Information Report (FIR) of the cops said, Purkayastha along with “Neville Roy Singham, Geeta Hariharan, Gautam Bhatia (key person) conspired to create a ‘Legal Community Network’ in India to campaign for and put up a spirited defence of legal cases against aforementioned Chinese telecom companies in return for benefits by these companies.”There is no other mention of the legal scholar anywhere in the FIR.Reacting to the naming of Bhatia, taking to his X (Twitter) handle, Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale said, “It is UNPRECEDENTED that a lawyer can be named in an FIR for providing legal defence to a client. Every entity is entitled to a legal defence & lawyers cannot be charged no matter what the accusations against their client company are. Delhi Police has clearly filed a frivolous FIR against NewsClick which has no merits and has purely been done out of the vendetta of Modi & Shah. Invoking terror charges has only been done to ensure that the journalists stay in jail as long as possible before they get acquitted because the process is the punishment.”As per the reports, Singham is a resident of Shanghai, and an active member of the propaganda department of the Communist Party of China and writer Geeta Hariharan, as per cops, is a shareholder of the NewsClick media.  

    ALSO READ | NewsClick rejects allegations levelled in FIR against it as untenable, bogus

    The FIR also alleged that big Chinese telecom companies like Xiaomi and Vivo incorporated thousands of shell firms in India in violation of PMLA/FEMA for illegally infusing foreign funds.”….large amount of funds were routed from China in the circuitous and camouflaged manner and paid news were intentionally peddled criticising domestic policies, development projects of India and promoting, projecting and defending policies and programmes of the Chinese government,” an excerpt of the FIR read.

    The police, in the FIR, also alleged that Purkayastha, Singham and others actively propagated false narratives to discredit the efforts of the Indian government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.”Moreover, they have acted against the national interest by promoting a misleading and false narrative about the domestic pharmaceutical industry and the policies and development initiatives of the democratically elected Indian government in cohort with anti-national forces,” the FIR stated.

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has mentioned the name of constitutional lawyer Gautam Bhatia as a “key person” in the FIR against arrested NewsClick editor Prabir Purkayastha, stating his defence in the legal cases for Chinese Telecom majors Xiaomi and Vivo.The First Information Report (FIR) of the cops said, Purkayastha along with “Neville Roy Singham, Geeta Hariharan, Gautam Bhatia (key person) conspired to create a ‘Legal Community Network’ in India to campaign for and put up a spirited defence of legal cases against aforementioned Chinese telecom companies in return for benefits by these companies.”There is no other mention of the legal scholar anywhere in the FIR.Reacting to the naming of Bhatia, taking to his X (Twitter) handle, Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale said, “It is UNPRECEDENTED that a lawyer can be named in an FIR for providing legal defence to a client. Every entity is entitled to a legal defence & lawyers cannot be charged no matter what the accusations against their client company are. Delhi Police has clearly filed a frivolous FIR against NewsClick which has no merits and has purely been done out of the vendetta of Modi & Shah. Invoking terror charges has only been done to ensure that the journalists stay in jail as long as possible before they get acquitted because the process is the punishment.”As per the reports, Singham is a resident of Shanghai, and an active member of the propaganda department of the Communist Party of China and writer Geeta Hariharan, as per cops, is a shareholder of the NewsClick media.  

    ALSO READ | NewsClick rejects allegations levelled in FIR against it as untenable, bogus

    The FIR also alleged that big Chinese telecom companies like Xiaomi and Vivo incorporated thousands of shell firms in India in violation of PMLA/FEMA for illegally infusing foreign funds.”….large amount of funds were routed from China in the circuitous and camouflaged manner and paid news were intentionally peddled criticising domestic policies, development projects of India and promoting, projecting and defending policies and programmes of the Chinese government,” an excerpt of the FIR read.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The police, in the FIR, also alleged that Purkayastha, Singham and others actively propagated false narratives to discredit the efforts of the Indian government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.”Moreover, they have acted against the national interest by promoting a misleading and false narrative about the domestic pharmaceutical industry and the policies and development initiatives of the democratically elected Indian government in cohort with anti-national forces,” the FIR stated.

  • NewsClick rejects allegations levelled in FIR against it as untenable, bogus

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The NewsClick portal has rejected allegations levelled in a Delhi Police FIR against it as untenable and bogus, and said the proceedings initiated are “nothing but a blatant attempt to muzzle the free and independent press in India”.

    In an FIR filed under anti-terror law UAPA against NewsClick, the Delhi Police has alleged a large sum of funds came from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty and cause disaffection against the country as part of a “larger criminal conspiracy.” The FIR also claimed that the foreign fund was fraudulently infused by Neville Roy Singham, an active member of the propaganda department of the Communist Party of China.

    The Delhi Police served a copy of the FIR to the portal on Friday.

    In a statement issued on X on Friday night, the portal said, “The Newsclick has not received any funding or instructions from China or Chinese entities. Further, Newsclick has never committed or sought to encourage violence, secession or any illegal act in any manner whatsoever. A perusal of Newsclick’s coverage, which is freely available online, should be sufficient to indicate the veracity of Newsclick’s claims.”

    The statement also said that Newsclick has full faith in the judicial system of the country and is confident that its stand will be vindicated.

    On Monday, the Delhi Police arrested NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha and its HR head Amit Chakravarty after raids at nearly 88 locations related to the premises of the portal and its journalists.

    “The allegations in the FIR, apart from being ex facie untenable and bogus, have been made time and again, in investigations by three government agencies — the Enforcement Directorate, the Economic Offences Wing, Delhi Police, and the income tax department,” it said.

    It said that none of these investigations led to any chargesheets or complaints over the last three years.

    In the statement, the portal said that Purkayastha was granted interim protection in these investigations, and the latest FIR has been registered only to circumvent this and carry out “illegal arrests” under the draconian UAPA.

    #NewsClickRaids | The completely absurd nature of allegations in the FIR clearly show that the proceedings initiated against Newsclick are nothing but a blatant attempt to muzzle the free and independent press in India.The Delhi High Court today, was pleased to issue notice in… pic.twitter.com/HHyr1CDpk8
    — NewsClick (@newsclickin) October 6, 2023
    The portal also said Purkayastha was supplied with a copy of the FIR registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell only on Thursday night pursuant to the directions of the Special Judge, Patiala House.

    “We immediately moved the High Court of Delhi seeking quashing of the FIR as well as the release of Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakraborty from their illegal police custody,” it said.

    The Delhi Police had registered an FIR under section sections 13, 16,17, 18 and 22C of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and 153A, and 120B of the IPC and arrested Purkayastha and the human resources head for allegedly receiving foreign funds from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty and cause disaffection against the country.

    The Delhi Police, meanwhile, is likely to question ten people who are named in the FIR on Monday. This includes senior journalists of the NewsClick and contributors.

    ALSO READ | NewsClick row: Delhi police raid Ex-NewsClick staff’s Kerala residence, seize laptop and phone

    Police officials said they have called another set of people allegedly connected to the case.

    At least 20 people have already been questioned on Thursday and Friday.

    NEW DELHI: The NewsClick portal has rejected allegations levelled in a Delhi Police FIR against it as untenable and bogus, and said the proceedings initiated are “nothing but a blatant attempt to muzzle the free and independent press in India”.

    In an FIR filed under anti-terror law UAPA against NewsClick, the Delhi Police has alleged a large sum of funds came from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty and cause disaffection against the country as part of a “larger criminal conspiracy.” The FIR also claimed that the foreign fund was fraudulently infused by Neville Roy Singham, an active member of the propaganda department of the Communist Party of China.

    The Delhi Police served a copy of the FIR to the portal on Friday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In a statement issued on X on Friday night, the portal said, “The Newsclick has not received any funding or instructions from China or Chinese entities. Further, Newsclick has never committed or sought to encourage violence, secession or any illegal act in any manner whatsoever. A perusal of Newsclick’s coverage, which is freely available online, should be sufficient to indicate the veracity of Newsclick’s claims.”

    The statement also said that Newsclick has full faith in the judicial system of the country and is confident that its stand will be vindicated.

    On Monday, the Delhi Police arrested NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha and its HR head Amit Chakravarty after raids at nearly 88 locations related to the premises of the portal and its journalists.

    “The allegations in the FIR, apart from being ex facie untenable and bogus, have been made time and again, in investigations by three government agencies — the Enforcement Directorate, the Economic Offences Wing, Delhi Police, and the income tax department,” it said.

    It said that none of these investigations led to any chargesheets or complaints over the last three years.

    In the statement, the portal said that Purkayastha was granted interim protection in these investigations, and the latest FIR has been registered only to circumvent this and carry out “illegal arrests” under the draconian UAPA.

    #NewsClickRaids | The completely absurd nature of allegations in the FIR clearly show that the proceedings initiated against Newsclick are nothing but a blatant attempt to muzzle the free and independent press in India.
    The Delhi High Court today, was pleased to issue notice in… pic.twitter.com/HHyr1CDpk8
    — NewsClick (@newsclickin) October 6, 2023
    The portal also said Purkayastha was supplied with a copy of the FIR registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell only on Thursday night pursuant to the directions of the Special Judge, Patiala House.

    “We immediately moved the High Court of Delhi seeking quashing of the FIR as well as the release of Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakraborty from their illegal police custody,” it said.

    The Delhi Police had registered an FIR under section sections 13, 16,17, 18 and 22C of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and 153A, and 120B of the IPC and arrested Purkayastha and the human resources head for allegedly receiving foreign funds from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty and cause disaffection against the country.

    The Delhi Police, meanwhile, is likely to question ten people who are named in the FIR on Monday. This includes senior journalists of the NewsClick and contributors.

    ALSO READ | NewsClick row: Delhi police raid Ex-NewsClick staff’s Kerala residence, seize laptop and phone

    Police officials said they have called another set of people allegedly connected to the case.

    At least 20 people have already been questioned on Thursday and Friday.

  • Newsclick raids: Delhi HC asks police to respond to pleas against arrest of Purkayastha, HR head

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Friday issued notice to police on pleas challenging the arrest of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA.

    Justice Tushar Rao Gedela also sought the response of the city police on the applications seeking interim release of Purkayastha and Chakravarty till the pendency of their petition.

    The court listed the matter for further hearing on October 9.

    ALSO READ | NewsClick raids: FIR says funds came from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty

    Purkayastha and Chakravarty were arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Tuesday. Police have sealed the NewsClick’s office in Delhi.

    The portal has been accused of receiving money to spread pro-China propaganda. The duo is currently in police custody.

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Friday issued notice to police on pleas challenging the arrest of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA.

    Justice Tushar Rao Gedela also sought the response of the city police on the applications seeking interim release of Purkayastha and Chakravarty till the pendency of their petition.

    The court listed the matter for further hearing on October 9.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    ALSO READ | NewsClick raids: FIR says funds came from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty

    Purkayastha and Chakravarty were arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Tuesday. Police have sealed the NewsClick’s office in Delhi.

    The portal has been accused of receiving money to spread pro-China propaganda. The duo is currently in police custody.

  • Journalist bodies condemn Newsclick raids, say they are to divert attention from burning issues

    By Online Desk

    The National Alliance of Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi Unit) issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the Delhi Police raids on news portal NewsClick, its scribes, as well as activists. Staffers across designations as well as contributors were raided.

    It said that the residences of Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, Mahesh Kumar, Subodh Varma, Aditi Nigam, Mukund Jha, and many others were raided this morning. The statement claimed that several of the mediapersons were also taken into custody.

    The residences of activist Teesta Setalvad and Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, too, were raided.

    “The government has been targeting Newsclick apparently after the coverage this news portal gave to the issues of workers and farmers,” the statement alleged.

    “We believe that this is yet another attempt by the Centre to muzzle the freedom of press. Such an action, raiding and intimidating almost all the employees in a media organisation is unheard of,” it said.

    Journalists Pranjoy Guha Thakurata and Urmilesh being taken to Lodhi Road Special Cell office, in New Delhi, on Oct. 3, 2023. (PTI)

    The statement by the journalist bodies also noted that the Newsclick management has been maintaining that whatever funding they have received was through legal sources and that the evidence for this has been submitted to the Delhi High Court.

    “These new raids are to divert public attention from burning livelihood issues of people. We condemn this with the strongest possible words. We will stand with these journalists in this matter. We urge the Centre to immediately stop this attack on press freedom. We urge the media fraternity to protest against this witch-hunt by the government,” the statement said.

    Meanwhile, the Press Club of India has demanded the Centre to come out with details of the investigation. “The Press Club of India is deeply concerned about the multiple raids conducted on the houses of journalists and writers associated with #Newsclick. We are monitoring the developments and will be releasing a detailed statement,” the journalists’ body wrote on X.

    The Network of Women in Media, India Journalists, termed the police action “shocking”, and said on X that “activists and artists who speak truth to power are being unrelentingly harassed and persecuted by the government, while pliant and sycophantic mediapersons and media houses are being nurtured. This campaign to quell dissent has to stop.”

    ALSO READ | Raids on NewsClick journos, a distraction from ‘explosive’ findings of Bihar caste survey: Congress

    Raids at 30 locations across NCR

    Sources informed TNIE that searches are being made by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell at more than 30 locations across the NCR, including the office of NewsClick, while its journalists are being questioned and their mobile phones and laptops have been seized by the cops.

    Police have recovered dumped data from the seized laptops and phones.

    The Special Cell has reportedly filed a new case under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, following allegations that the news portal received money for pro-China propaganda.

    Sources told TNIE that the Special Cell has formed a list of at least 25 questions which they are asking the detained journalists. The questions pertain to anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh, Farmers’ Protest, North East Delhi riots and even details of their foreign travels. 

    There is no confirmation yet of arrests made so far in the searches concentrated in the Delhi-NCR region.

    A police personnel arrives at the office of NewsClick at Saket during raids by Delhi Police’s Special Cell on its premises, in New Delhi, on Oct. 3, 2023. (PTI)

    Background

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier raided the firm’s premises probing its sources of funding. The Special Cell is conducting raids on the basis of inputs provided by the central agency.

    The ED had registered a case against the news portal and alleged that NewsClick received foreign funding in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The agency had also alleged that the money was used for anti-national activities.

    On August 5, The New York Times published a report titled “A Global Web of Chinese Propaganda Leads to a US Tech Mogul” which claimed that NewsClick was part of a global network that received funding from American millionaire Neville Roy Singham, who allegedly works closely with the Chinese government media and promoted its point of view in various countries.

    Following the NYT report, NewsClick had issued a statement remarking that the allegations made against the organisation were “unfounded and without basis in fact or law.”

    (With inputs from Ujwal Jalali and PTI)

    The National Alliance of Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi Unit) issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the Delhi Police raids on news portal NewsClick, its scribes, as well as activists. Staffers across designations as well as contributors were raided.

    It said that the residences of Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, Mahesh Kumar, Subodh Varma, Aditi Nigam, Mukund Jha, and many others were raided this morning. The statement claimed that several of the mediapersons were also taken into custody.

    The residences of activist Teesta Setalvad and Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, too, were raided.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    “The government has been targeting Newsclick apparently after the coverage this news portal gave to the issues of workers and farmers,” the statement alleged.

    “We believe that this is yet another attempt by the Centre to muzzle the freedom of press. Such an action, raiding and intimidating almost all the employees in a media organisation is unheard of,” it said.

    Journalists Pranjoy Guha Thakurata and Urmilesh being taken to Lodhi Road Special Cell office, in New Delhi, on Oct. 3, 2023. (PTI)

    The statement by the journalist bodies also noted that the Newsclick management has been maintaining that whatever funding they have received was through legal sources and that the evidence for this has been submitted to the Delhi High Court.

    “These new raids are to divert public attention from burning livelihood issues of people. We condemn this with the strongest possible words. We will stand with these journalists in this matter. We urge the Centre to immediately stop this attack on press freedom. We urge the media fraternity to protest against this witch-hunt by the government,” the statement said.

    Meanwhile, the Press Club of India has demanded the Centre to come out with details of the investigation. “The Press Club of India is deeply concerned about the multiple raids conducted on the houses of journalists and writers associated with #Newsclick. We are monitoring the developments and will be releasing a detailed statement,” the journalists’ body wrote on X.

    The Network of Women in Media, India Journalists, termed the police action “shocking”, and said on X that “activists and artists who speak truth to power are being unrelentingly harassed and persecuted by the government, while pliant and sycophantic mediapersons and media houses are being nurtured. This campaign to quell dissent has to stop.”

    ALSO READ | Raids on NewsClick journos, a distraction from ‘explosive’ findings of Bihar caste survey: Congress

    Raids at 30 locations across NCR

    Sources informed TNIE that searches are being made by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell at more than 30 locations across the NCR, including the office of NewsClick, while its journalists are being questioned and their mobile phones and laptops have been seized by the cops.

    Police have recovered dumped data from the seized laptops and phones.

    The Special Cell has reportedly filed a new case under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, following allegations that the news portal received money for pro-China propaganda.

    Sources told TNIE that the Special Cell has formed a list of at least 25 questions which they are asking the detained journalists. The questions pertain to anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh, Farmers’ Protest, North East Delhi riots and even details of their foreign travels. 

    There is no confirmation yet of arrests made so far in the searches concentrated in the Delhi-NCR region.

    A police personnel arrives at the office of NewsClick at Saket during raids by Delhi Police’s Special Cell on its premises, in New Delhi, on Oct. 3, 2023. (PTI)

    Background

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier raided the firm’s premises probing its sources of funding. The Special Cell is conducting raids on the basis of inputs provided by the central agency.

    The ED had registered a case against the news portal and alleged that NewsClick received foreign funding in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The agency had also alleged that the money was used for anti-national activities.

    On August 5, The New York Times published a report titled “A Global Web of Chinese Propaganda Leads to a US Tech Mogul” which claimed that NewsClick was part of a global network that received funding from American millionaire Neville Roy Singham, who allegedly works closely with the Chinese government media and promoted its point of view in various countries.

    Following the NYT report, NewsClick had issued a statement remarking that the allegations made against the organisation were “unfounded and without basis in fact or law.”

    (With inputs from Ujwal Jalali and PTI)

  • Delhi HC seeks stand of NewsClick, its editor on ED plea against protection in money laundering case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of news portal NewsClick and its editor-in-chief on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking vacation of an earlier order granting them protection from coercive action in a money laundering case.

    Issuing a notice to NewsClick and its editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha, Justice Saurabh Banerjee observed that prima facie, the investigation agency’s submissions for vacation of interim protection have merit and require deliberation.

    The application is part of the ongoing proceedings on a petition by the portal seeking a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) lodged by the ED in the case.

    The ED counsel said new material has been unearthed, revealing the commission of the offence of money laundering.

    He also said the petition was not maintainable as the ECIR is an internal document that cannot be supplied and the petitioners cannot “piggyback” on the interim relief.

    This is a criminal conspiracy for “paid news” where crores of rupees have come in violation of laws, the ED’s counsel submitted.

    “Prima facie, in the opinion of this court, the above contention has merit and requires deliberation. In view thereof, issue notice,” Justice Banerjee said and listed the matter for further hearing on September 6.

    ALSO READ | NewsClick: ED probes Prakash Karat-billionaire Singham email exchanges, funds transfer to journalists

    Counsel for the petitioners said there was no urgency in the matter.

    In the application for vacation of the interim order, the ED said the Supreme Court has deprecated the practice of “blanket no coercive action” orders and such orders during the course of investigation virtually amount to granting anticipatory bail to the accused.

    “Since ECIR can no longer be provided to the accused and as for grant of anticipatory bail the twin conditions of Section 45 (PMLA) are required to be complied (with), the continuation of interim protection to the accused petitioner virtually amounts to grant of anticipatory bail in a PMLA case without the satisfaction of the twin conditions.

    Therefore, the orders dated 21.06.2021 and 29.07.2021 granting interim protection must be vacated at the earliest in view of the settled position of law,” the ED application said.

    On June 21 last year, the High Court directed the ED not to take any coercive action against NewsClick and Purkayastha in connection with the money laundering case.

    The interim protection was further extended on July 29, 2021.

    The ED initiated its probe on the basis of a Delhi Police FIR and has conducted searches on the premises of NewsClick and several other places in connection with the money received from overseas.

    According to the FIR, the petitioner company, PPK Newsclick Studio Private Limited, received foreign direct investment (FDI) to the tune of Rs 9.59 crore from Worldwide Media Holdings LLC USA during 2018-19.

    It alleged that the investment was made by greatly overvaluing the shares of the petitioner company to avoid the 26 per cent FDI cap in a digital news website.

    It was further alleged that over 45 per cent of this investment was diverted or siphoned off for the payment of salary/consultancy, rent and other expenses.

    Therefore, it is alleged that the company has violated FDI and other laws of the country and caused a loss to the government exchequer.

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of news portal NewsClick and its editor-in-chief on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking vacation of an earlier order granting them protection from coercive action in a money laundering case.

    Issuing a notice to NewsClick and its editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha, Justice Saurabh Banerjee observed that prima facie, the investigation agency’s submissions for vacation of interim protection have merit and require deliberation.

    The application is part of the ongoing proceedings on a petition by the portal seeking a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) lodged by the ED in the case.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The ED counsel said new material has been unearthed, revealing the commission of the offence of money laundering.

    He also said the petition was not maintainable as the ECIR is an internal document that cannot be supplied and the petitioners cannot “piggyback” on the interim relief.

    This is a criminal conspiracy for “paid news” where crores of rupees have come in violation of laws, the ED’s counsel submitted.

    “Prima facie, in the opinion of this court, the above contention has merit and requires deliberation. In view thereof, issue notice,” Justice Banerjee said and listed the matter for further hearing on September 6.

    ALSO READ | NewsClick: ED probes Prakash Karat-billionaire Singham email exchanges, funds transfer to journalists

    Counsel for the petitioners said there was no urgency in the matter.

    In the application for vacation of the interim order, the ED said the Supreme Court has deprecated the practice of “blanket no coercive action” orders and such orders during the course of investigation virtually amount to granting anticipatory bail to the accused.

    “Since ECIR can no longer be provided to the accused and as for grant of anticipatory bail the twin conditions of Section 45 (PMLA) are required to be complied (with), the continuation of interim protection to the accused petitioner virtually amounts to grant of anticipatory bail in a PMLA case without the satisfaction of the twin conditions.

    Therefore, the orders dated 21.06.2021 and 29.07.2021 granting interim protection must be vacated at the earliest in view of the settled position of law,” the ED application said.

    On June 21 last year, the High Court directed the ED not to take any coercive action against NewsClick and Purkayastha in connection with the money laundering case.

    The interim protection was further extended on July 29, 2021.

    The ED initiated its probe on the basis of a Delhi Police FIR and has conducted searches on the premises of NewsClick and several other places in connection with the money received from overseas.

    According to the FIR, the petitioner company, PPK Newsclick Studio Private Limited, received foreign direct investment (FDI) to the tune of Rs 9.59 crore from Worldwide Media Holdings LLC USA during 2018-19.

    It alleged that the investment was made by greatly overvaluing the shares of the petitioner company to avoid the 26 per cent FDI cap in a digital news website.

    It was further alleged that over 45 per cent of this investment was diverted or siphoned off for the payment of salary/consultancy, rent and other expenses.

    Therefore, it is alleged that the company has violated FDI and other laws of the country and caused a loss to the government exchequer.

  • NewsClick refutes ‘Break India’ allegations made by Union Minister

    By Online Desk

    In response to the allegations made against NewsClick, the news organisation late on Monday said that the claims are unfounded and without basis in fact or law. 

    In a statement by NewsClick regarding the allegations, its Editor-in-Chief, Prabir Purkaystha said that Newsclick is an independent news organisation and ‘any insinuation that we function as a mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China or other interests is false’.

    “Over the past 12 hours, various false and misleading allegations have been levelled against Newsclick which pertain to matters that are currently sub judice before courts in India. We respect the sanctity of the legal process and do not intend to indulge in a media trial. The allegations being made against us by certain political actors and sections of the media are unfounded and without basis in fact or law”, the statement read. 

    Meanwhile, the High Court of Delhi has, having found a prima facie case in favour of Newsclick, granted interim protection from arrest to various officials of the company. Further, the Hon’ble Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Special Acts), Delhi, has dismissed a complaint filed by the income tax authorities against Newsclick, finding the same to be without merit, the statement added.

    In response to the allegations made against NewsClick, the news organisation late on Monday said that the claims are unfounded and without basis in fact or law. 

    In a statement by NewsClick regarding the allegations, its Editor-in-Chief, Prabir Purkaystha said that Newsclick is an independent news organisation and ‘any insinuation that we function as a mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China or other interests is false’.

    “Over the past 12 hours, various false and misleading allegations have been levelled against Newsclick which pertain to matters that are currently sub judice before courts in India. We respect the sanctity of the legal process and do not intend to indulge in a media trial. The allegations being made against us by certain political actors and sections of the media are unfounded and without basis in fact or law”, the statement read. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Meanwhile, the High Court of Delhi has, having found a prima facie case in favour of Newsclick, granted interim protection from arrest to various officials of the company. Further, the Hon’ble Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Special Acts), Delhi, has dismissed a complaint filed by the income tax authorities against Newsclick, finding the same to be without merit, the statement added.

  • Tax probe attempt to ‘stifle’ independent journalism: Newslaundry, Newsclick after survey

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Online news platform Newslaundry on Saturday said it does business “honestly and with integrity” while another such portal Newsclick said investigation against it by various agencies including the latest Income Tax Department survey is an attempt to “stifle” independent journalism.

    The tax department surveyed the office of Newslaundry located at Sarvodaya Enclave in south Delhi on Friday along with that of Newsclick in Saidulajab area (south Delhi) on charges of alleged tax evasion.

    “We have nothing to hide and have done everything by the book and are not in any breach or violation of any law. We conduct our business honestly and with integrity,” Newslaundry co-founder Abhinandan Sekhri said in a message posted on his Twitter handle.

    Thanks again for your support. My statement is below. You can support us herehttps://t.co/lefMXTG3xwPlease spread the message. pic.twitter.com/YCDni2AIKi
    — Abhinandan Sekhri (@AbhinandanSekhr) September 11, 2021
    He said the tax team told him he “cannot” speak to his lawyer and the law requires him to comply “without seeking legal advice” adding that the officials were courteous and professional.

    He said “no signed hash value of the data copied” was provided to him and that he considered this as violation of his fundamental right to privacy.

    A hash value is a numeric value that uniquely identifies data.

    Hash values represent large amounts of data as much smaller numeric values, so they are used with digital signatures.

    Sekhri said the tax team comprising 6-7 people arrived at their office around 12.15 pm and left around 12.40 am on Saturday.

    “They searched and looked through all computer devices at the premises. My personal mobile phone, laptop and a couple of office machines were taken control of and all the data on them downloaded by the IT team,” he said.

    Sekhri said this was the second visit by the tax authorities to his office, the first being in June, and they had given “all documents related to our funding and accounts” to the officials then.

    “We will cooperate in whatever way we are required to by the law.

    We will also continue to practice public interest journalism which is why we exist,” he said.

    Our support comes from people who value public interest news and chose to subscribe to Newslaundry, not through government or corporate advertisements or public relation exercises, Sekhri said, adding that the online portal is proud of the model it has chosen and championed.

    Tax officials had said that separate survey operations on the two news portals were conducted to verify certain tax payment details and remittances made by the organisations.

    As part of a survey operation, carried out under Section 133A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, tax officials cover only the business premises of an assessee and those linked to it and not their residential addresses.

    However, they are authorised to seize documents, computer and electronic devices as part of the surprise action.

    Newsclick said the tax team “recorded the statement of its Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha; impounded his phone; and took away documents, what they called “loose papers from the premises”.

    “They also took email dumps of Prabir, editor Pranjal, and various administrative and financial accounts related to Newsclick,” it said in a statement posted on its Twitter handle.

    Around 30 employees and support staff of Newsclick were in the office throughout the survey and their phones were temporarily seized, and they were not allowed to use their computers and work, it said.

    Newsclick said the latest action against them “appears to relate to the same false and unfounded allegations being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and the Economic Offences Wing, Delhi Police. We have these allegations challenged in the courts”.

    “These investigations by various agencies, and these selective allegations, are attempts to stifle the independent journalism of media organisations, including Newsclick,” it said.

    Tax officials who reached the Newsclick office around noon on Friday left at midnight.

    Newsclick, Purkayastha and other executives were raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier in February under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and that investigation is linked to alleged dubious foreign funding received by its registered company, which runs the news portal.

  • IT officials conduct ‘surveys’ at NewsClick, Newslaundry offices

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: Income Tax officials visited the offices of few news portals to conduct ‘surveys’ on Friday.

    Notably, the IT department clarified that these visits are being carried out to conduct ‘surveys’ and not ‘raids’.

    Accordingly, the IT officials visited the offices of news portals NewsClick and Newslaundry to conduct surveys.

    People in the know of the developments said that the ‘survey’ operations are being conducted to verify certain tax payment details of these organisations.

    The officials reportedly took the phones of all the employees present in the office and switched them off. 

    The staffers were also not allowed to leave the premises until the operation concluded. 

    In February this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had raided the NewsClick office as well as the homes of its editors in connection with allegations of money laundering. Watch the video to know more.

  • Why is Newsclick editor-in-chief’s custodial interrogation needed? HC asks Delhi Police

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Thursday extended till December 17 the interim protection from arrest granted to Newsclick editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha in foreign funding case and asked Delhi Police why it needed his custodial interrogation when the RBI has given a prima facie finding in his favour.

    “Prima facie, there is no delay etc (as per RBI). In that case, why do you need his custodial interrogation?” asked Justice Yogesh Khanna while hearing Purkayastha’s anticipatory bail application.

    The investigating officer, who was present before the court through video conferencing, responded that he was still “verifying other transactions” and the investigation was still ongoing.

    The allegations in the FIR, registered by the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police, are that the company, PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd, received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of Rs 9.59 crore from Worldwide Media Holdings LLC USA during the financial year 2018-19, in violation of the law.

    The court also extended the interim protection granted to Newsclick director Pranjal Pandey in the FIR.

    Additional Public Prosecutor Manjziit S Oberoi, appearing for State, stated that letters rogatory have also been sent to certain institutions abroad, whose replies were now awaited, and that other persons were also being interrogated.

    Investigation is the prerogative of the investigating officer, Oberoi said.

    The court sought a final reply from the police in the matter as it questioned, “what will you do with institutions’ reply.

    There may be 100 of institutions”.

    “Let final reply be filed. List on December 17. Interim orders to continue,” the judge ordered.

    Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, representing Purkayastha, urged the court to confirm the interim protection granted to his client on the ground that as per police status report, RBI, which is the concerned body, has taken a stand that “was no delay in the issuance of shares” and the transaction pertaining to the foreign funding were in compliance with the law.

    “Status report supports what we say. (That) they are RBI, FEMA complaint. There is no issue of non-compliance,” Said Krishnan who appeared along with advocate Arshdeep Singh.

    The Delhi Police FIR alleged that the investment was made by greatly overvaluing the shares of the company to avoid the alleged cap of 26 per cent of FDI in a digital news website, and violated the FDI and other laws of the country The FIR further alleged that over 45 per cent of this investment was diverted/siphoned off for the payment of salary/consultancy, rent and other expenses, which are alleged to have been made for ulterior motives.

    The company, through another petition, has already sought quashing of the Delhi Police FIR on the allegations of foreign funding on the ground that it does not disclose any cognisable offences as alleged.

    On July 7, the court had granted interim protection from arrest to Purkayastha and Pandey while directing them to join the investigation.

    The high court had on June 21 directed the Enforcement Directorate not to take coercive action against the news portal and its editor-in-chief in connection with the money laundering case.