Delhi: The Delhi Police conducted raids at over 30 locations linked to NewsClick as part of an investigation into foreign funding registered by the Economic Offenses Wing of the Delhi Police. The Delhi Police have stated that they are continuing their investigation and that no arrests have been made during the raid. Reports suggest that the ongoing investigation has uncovered significant evidence pointing towards anti-national activities.
NewsClick is alleged to have engaged in anti-national activities by receiving funds from abroad, conspiring with accomplices, and acting on instructions received from benami sources abroad. The FIR alleges that they concealed information about the foreign investment funds they received. On August 22, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to Prabir Purkayastha, the editor-in-chief of NewsClick, in response to a petition filed by the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police. Later, the petitioner, Prabir Purkayastha, approached the High Court seeking protection from arrest. He expressed his willingness to cooperate with the investigation and submitted only the balance sheets of NewsClick Studio Pvt. Prabir Purkayastha also declined to provide documents related to the source of income, expenditure, and funds or income from foreign institutions for the financial years 2017 to 2020.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case against NewsClick and its editor-in-chief in the Delhi High Court, alleging instances of paid news. In the court application, the ED claimed that the organization was part of a criminal conspiracy. In February 2021, as part of a money laundering case, the agency conducted raids at the residences of Newsclick editors and discovered significant documents.
The funds in question are reported to have originated from various entities associated with Neville Roy Singham, an American billionaire with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The Enforcement Directorate seized the flat of NewsClick Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha in Delhi’s Saket area as part of a money laundering investigation. There were reports suggesting that CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat had links to NewsClick. According to police sources, no individuals were arrested during the raid. A spokesperson for the Delhi Police has stated that further investigation is ongoing in connection with NewsClick.
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