Delhi Police files chargesheet against Newsclick, founder Prabir Purkaystha in UA(P)A case (Image Source: Live Law)
In a significant development, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police submitted its inaugural chargesheet on March 30, in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, against the news portal NewsClick. The case stems from allegations suggesting that the news portal received substantial funding for propagating pro-China narratives.
Presented before the Additional Sessions Judge Dr. Hardeep Kaur at the Patiala House Court, the chargesheet comprises nearly 8000 pages, including annexures. Special Public Prosecutors Advocate Akhand Pratap Singh and Suraj Rathi informed the court that the chargesheet identifies Prabir Purkayastha, the founder and editor-in-chief of NewsClick, and PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt Ltd as the accused.
During the hearing, SPPs Akhand Pratap Singh and Suraj Rathi sought a deferral of cognizance, citing pending sanctions under section 45 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for prosecution concerning offenses against the state and criminal conspiracy. These sanctions are anticipated to be included in a forthcoming supplementary chargesheet.
Acknowledging the submissions, the court scheduled arguments on the cognizance point for April 16, 2024.
Earlier, Delhi’s Patiala House Court had granted an extension to the Delhi Police for filing the chargesheet in December of the preceding year. The police were initially granted a two-month extension, followed by an additional 20 days in February this year.
In connection with the case, Prabir Purkayastha and NewsClick are named as the principal accused, while Amit Chakraborty has been designated as an approver. Both Purkayastha and Chakraborty were apprehended on October 3, 2023, under stringent provisions of the UAPA and IPC sections, including 153A and 120B.
The FIR lodged by the Delhi Police underscores allegations of the unlawful infusion of foreign funds, amounting to crores, into India by both Indian and foreign entities hostile to the nation. These funds purportedly form part of a conspiracy aimed at undermining India’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security.
The FIR also alleges that the People’s Dispatch Portal, managed by M/S PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt. Ltd., was utilised to disseminate intentionally misleading narratives through paid news, financed by illicitly routed foreign funds, as part of a broader conspiracy.
The chargesheet filing marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation into the alleged pro-China propaganda activities involving NewsClick, signaling the intensification of legal proceedings in the case.
The Delhi Police launched this investigation brd on information furnished by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) subsequent to its probe last year. The police FIR asserts that American billionaire Neville Roy Singham had been consistently financing NewsClick.
On August 5, The New York Times ran an article titled “A US Tech Mogul Linked to a Global Web of Chinese Propaganda,” which suggested that NewsClick, a news portal, was affiliated with a worldwide network that received funding from American millionaire Singham, who allegedly had close ties to Chinese government media.
Quoting from the NYT piece, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur claimed that Congress, China, and NewsClick shared an “anti-India umbilical cord” and were promoting the agenda of the Communist Party of China through the website. Following the publication of the NYT article, NewsClick issued a statement refuting the accusations as unfounded and lacking both factual and legal basis, two days later.
Notably, the FIR related to the NewsClick case also implicated activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha, who, as per the police, has been a shareholder in NewsClick since 2018. Law enforcement alleged that Navlakha had engaged in anti-Indian activities, including active support for outlawed Maoist organisations and maintaining connections with Ghulam Nabi Fai, an ISI agent from Pakistan, deemed anti-national.
As per the FIR, Navlakha has been in association with Purkayastha since 1991, when they purportedly established a company through which Purkayastha allegedly diverted foreign funds unlawfully.
In August, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached a flat linked to NewsClick editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayashta in New Delhi’s Saket as part of its money laundering probe against the news portal. The agency also conducted raids at Purkayastha’s premises in September 2021. According to a New York Times report, the outlet was involved in a global network receiving funding from American billionaire Neville Roy Singham to “spread Chinese propaganda.”
It was emphasised that Singham has been successful in disseminating talking points from the communist administration in countries including India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States under the guise of progressive advocacy. The report pointed out, “In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham’s network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points.”
On August 7, Bhartiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey raised the issue of Chinese financing of the leftist propaganda news outlet, NewsClick, in the Indian Parliament. He spoke about the recent revelations made by the New York Times.
In his speech which is trending on social media now, Dubey said, “Chinese goods are being sold at Rahul Gandhi’s nafrat ki dukaan (hate shop)…The New York Times has published an interesting report…About Rs 38 crores have been received by organisations such as NewsClick.”
“The report by the newspaper also reiterated the findings of the Enforcement Directorate…NewsClick is a part of the anti-India, tukde tukde gang. (Prabir) Purkayastha is the owner,” he added.
He alleged that the funds received by the site were routed to Maoists, Naxalites and propaganda artists such as (Abhisar) Sharma, Rohini Singh and Swati Chaturvedi. He added that the Chinese government is also spending money to create an anti-India narrative.
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