NewsClick founder arrested after Delhi Police raids 100 locations, quizzes 46 employees

Following an Enforcement Directorate (ED) FIR, the Delhi Police Special Cell, on Tuesday, (October 3) conducted raids at various locations associated with the news portal NewsClick across the National Capital Region (NCR), following allegations that it received money for pro-China propaganda.

The day marked by a series of raids and interrogations ended with the Delhi Police's Special Cell arresting the NewsClick founder and Editor-in-Chief, Prabir Purkayastha and its Human Resource administrator Amit Chakravarty.

A total of 46 individuals related to the issue were quizzed after the outlet was allegedly involved in the receipt of foreign funding and connections to Chinese propaganda.

ALSO READ: What has NewsClick got to do with China?

AAP MP Sanjay Singh's residence raided

• In a separate development, early on Wednesday (October 4), the Enforcement Directorate was reported carrying out searches at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on a case relating to the Delhi liquor policy case as his name had been mentioned in the chargesheet.

What happened?

• The Delhi Police, riding on the controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), on Tuesday (October 3) searched over 100 locations in Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad.
• According to reports, the Delhi Police were seen seizing electronic evidence such as laptops, mobile phones, and data dumps of hard disks from the indivisuals associated.
• This operation comes in response to accusations that NewsClick received funding linked to a network promoting Chinese propaganda.
• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had previously filed a case, saying that NewsClick had violated provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by receiving foreign funding.

• An ED's investigation had reported the alleged infusion of foreign funds of Rs 38.05 crore over a short span of three years.
• The scrutiny of evidence suggested a questionable inflow of foreign funds, including Rs 9.59 crore through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Rs 28.46 crore via export of services, the agency said.
• The funds were reportedly distributed to several journalists and individuals, including Gautam Navlakha and the associates of Teesta Setalvad.

The Delhi Police questioned individuals associated with NewsClick, including Abhisar Sharma, Paranjoy Guha Thakura, Bhasha Singh, Aunindyo Chakravarty, Sohail Hashmi and Irfan K.

Reactions

• The Press Club of India expressed concern about the raids, stating that they were monitoring the situation and demanding the government to provide details.

• Congress leader Pawan Khera said that the raids served as a "fresh distraction."
• Meanwhile, Union Minister Anurag Thakur of the ruling party, BJP defended the searches, stating that probe agencies were free to act if anyone had done any wrong.