NewsClick has been in the eye of storm after a New York Times report revealed that it is one of the multiple organisations which received funding from American millionaire Neville Roy Singham and the same was routed by Chinese masters, with an aim to fulfil the sinister motives of China in the country.
However, in a latest development, 255 eminent people have written an open letter to President Droupadi Murmu and CJI Chandrachud, in which they have pressed for a ‘decisive action’ against the news portal.
Denouncing the news portal they wrote, “It is crystal clear that Neville Roy Singham, associated with the propaganda arm of the Communist Party of China (CCP) transferred a huge sum as FDI to NewsClick by purchasing its shares at an astronomical premium.”
These eminent people stated that strict action should be taken against them and they mentioned in the letter that “It is high time that this manufactured consensus of anti-national, anti-democratic, and ironically anti-free press agenda is set to rest.”
The issue of the Chinese funding into NewsClick echoed during the recently concluded monsoon Session of Parliament. The leaders of the ruling NDA government and the Bharatiya Janata Party came down heavily on those who came in defence of the propaganda website which was working at the behest of foreign powers.
Delhi HC issues notice to NewsClick
The Delhi High Court, on August 11, issued notice to PPK Newsclick Studio Private Limited, which owns the news portal NewsClick, and its company director Prabir Purkayastha on Enforcement Directorate (ED) plea seeking direction to vacate its interim order asking the agency to not take any coercive action against them.
The ED, in its fresh application, stated that this is a case of grave criminal conspiracy for paid news. Noting the submission, the bench of Justice Saurabh Benrajee sought a response from the news portal and its director Purkayastha and listed the matter for hearing in September.
Court further noted that Prima facie, the ED’s Counsel Zoheb Hossain’s contention has merit and requires deliberation.
The Delhi High Court on June 21, 2021, had directed the ED not to take coercive action against the news portal and on July 29, 2021, directed the ED not to take any coercive action against Newsclick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha in connection with a money laundering case subject to his joining the investigation.
The ED plea stated that in light of further investigation into the matter, additional material has been revealed which discloses the commission of the offence of money laundering as, well as a commission of a scheduled offence which has been intimated to the predicate agency as well, by way of an appropriate communication u/s 66(2) of the PMLA as well.
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