Delhi Police Raids NewsClick And 30 Other Locations In Money Laundering Case

The Special Cell of Delhi Police conducted searches at 30 locations associated with the digital news website NewsClick and certain journalists connected to the organisation on Tuesday. The residence of activist Teesta Setalvad was also subject to a search by the investigating authorities.

As of now, the police searches are ongoing at various locations in Delhi-NCR. The Special Cell initiated these raids based on information related to alleged illegal funding.

''Delhi Police's ongoing raids at different premises linked to NewsClick are based on a case registered on 17th August under UAPA and other sections of IPC. Case registered under sections of UAPA, 153A of IPC (promoting enmity between two groups), 120B of IPC (Criminal conspiracy),'' ANI quoted sources as saying.

In the most recent update, Prabir Purkayastha, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of NewsClick, was taken to the Delhi Police Special Cell office on Tuesday.

During the operation, the police retrieved data from the laptops and mobile phones of several NewsClick journalists. The Special Cell has registered a new case and launched an investigation, officials told news agency PTI.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier also conducted raids at 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.

Reportedly, those subjected to raids included the website's editor, Prabir Purkayastha, as well as journalists Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakravarty, and Bhasha Singh, alongside satirist Sanjay Rajaura.

NewsClick is currently under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The news outlet faces allegations of receiving Rs 38 crore from a Chinese citizen and using these funds to disseminate "pro-China propaganda" in India through its news articles.

Abhisar Sharma, a senior journalist, wrote on X, "Delhi police landed at my home. Taking away my laptop and phone."

Another Journalist Bhasha Singh tweeted what would be the final missive from her phone, before its seizure.

On August 5, The New York Times released an article alleging that NewsClick had received financial support from a network affiliated with American millionaire Neville Roy Singham, with the purpose of disseminating "Chinese propaganda" on a global scale, as reported by News18.

The report asserted that Singham maintained close ties with the "Chinese government media apparatus" and actively advocated its perspective in multiple nations.

Nevertheless, during that period, Purkayastha had refuted the claims, stating to Scroll that the allegations regarding the organization serving as a mouthpiece for the Communist Party of China were unfounded.