In a startling turn of events, the Delhi Police Special Cell has conducted raids on the homes of journalists and staff members associated with NewsClick. These raids come in the wake of troubling allegations suggesting that the news portal has connections with China, raising concerns about foreign influence in India’s media landscape. This extensive operation spanned across more than 30 locations in Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad, sending shockwaves through the journalistic community.
Unfolding Allegations and Legal Action: The Delhi Police Special Cell didn’t stop at conducting raids alone; they also registered a case against NewsClick under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During the course of these raids, law enforcement authorities seized electronic evidence, including laptops and mobile phones, and meticulously extracted data from hard disks.
Preceding Actions: Prior to this dramatic raid, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had already initiated legal proceedings against NewsClick. The ED’s allegations centered on the news portal’s purported receipt of foreign funding, allegedly in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The ED took a grave stance, accusing NewsClick of channeling these funds towards activities deemed detrimental to national interests.
The Global Connection: A report published by The New York Times further fueled suspicions about NewsClick’s affiliations. The report suggested that NewsClick was a part of a global network funded by American billionaire Neville Roy Singham, with a mission to disseminate Chinese propaganda. This marked a significant turning point as it marked the first instance of a central investigative agency targeting a media organization of this magnitude.
Email Exposé and Accusations: As the investigation unfolded, the ED unearthed a series of email exchanges involving Newsclick Director Prabir Purkayastha, several journalists, Neville Roy Singham, and leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) like Prakash Karat. These exchanges raised eyebrows and heightened suspicions about the nature of NewsClick’s operations.
The Money Trail: The ED’s accusations didn’t stop at emails; they alleged that Neville Roy Singham, who currently resides in China, funneled a staggering sum of Rs 38 crore into Newsclick. This illicit funding was purportedly aimed at promoting pro-China narratives within India. The ED went on to claim that Prabir Purkayastha and his fellow journalists engaged in the publication of paid news on their website in exchange for periodic financial support from Singham’s company, PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt. Ltd.
The raids on journalists linked to NewsClick and the subsequent legal actions have sent shockwaves through India’s media landscape. With allegations of foreign funding, links to Chinese propaganda networks, and accusations of publishing paid news, the case surrounding NewsClick raises critical questions about media ethics, transparency, and the role of foreign influence in shaping narratives.
