Delhi Police Arrests 2, Including NewsClick Founder, in Anti-terror Case After Hours of Questioning, Raids

NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha on Tuesday were arrested in a UAPA case linked with NewsClick portal’s funding.

Delhi Police today searched 30 locations connected with online news portal NewsClick and its journalists in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations that it received money for pro-China propaganda.

“Regarding the search, seizure and detentions carried out today in connection with a UAPA case registered with Special Cell, a total of 37 male suspects have been questioned at premises, 09 female suspects have been questioned at their respective places of stay and digital devices, documents etc. have been seized/collected for examination. The proceedings are still ongoing; so far, two accused, Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty have been arrested,” the Delhi Police said.

The issue led to political ripples with the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Samajwadi Party as well as the Press Club of India reacting to the searches and criticising the government for the action.

The Congress alleged that the raids on journalists were a “fresh distraction” from the “explosive” findings of the caste survey in Bihar and the growing demand for a caste census across the country.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said probe agencies in the country are independent and work as per law.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the law will take its course in the Newsclick funding case and raked up the imposition of Emergency by Congress to slam the opposition party for coming out in support of the news portal. Former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had, in fact, curtailed freedom of speech in the first amendment to the Constitution, he charged.

Slamming the Congress for coming out in support of the news portal, Poonawalla said it should be the last party lecturing about free speech and press freedom.

How Tech Mogul Neville Roy Singham Pushed Chinese Propaganda in India Via NewsClick

A New York Times probe has blown the lid off a wide web of Chinese propaganda at the behest of tech mogul Neville Roy Singham — who financed news website NewsClick — confirming India’s fears of anti-national elements colluding with foreign powers.

In 2021, an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate revealed that media portal NewsClick had received funds worth Rs 38 crore from abroad, with authorities tracing the money trail to American millionaire Singham. The BJP had then alleged that “anti-India” elements, in league with foreign forces, were “part of a conspiracy to demean the country and target the ruling Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government”.

Now, the new probe has confirmed concerns, with NYT saying corporate filings revealed that “NewsClick sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points”.

As per NYT, the investigation has revealed how China, via its propaganda network, has been able to shelter itself from international criticism of its human rights abuses.

(With PTI inputs)