Delhi Police’s Raids on NewsClick and the Arrest of Prabir Purkayastha: Unraveling the Controversy
Image source: The New Indian Express
In a shocking development, the Delhi Police conducted raids across five cities and arrested Prabir Purkayastha, the founder of the online news portal NewsClick, along with its human resource head Amit Chakravarty. The arrests come in connection with a case registered in August under the stringent anti-terrorism Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code, including promoting enmity and criminal conspiracy.
The First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Delhi Police alleges a complex conspiracy involving Purkayastha, activists, and even foreign entities. According to the FIR, Purkayastha and his associates conspired with a group named Peoples Alliance for Democracy and Secularism to disrupt the 2019 general elections. The police further assert that Chinese companies, including Xiaomi and Vivo, established shell companies to infuse foreign funds into this alleged conspiracy.
The FIR names activist Gautam Navlakha and Neville Roy Singham, an American millionaire accused of spreading Chinese propaganda, among the accused. Navlakha was previously arrested in 2020 in connection with alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune in December 2017. The FIR suggests that Purkayastha siphoned off foreign funds and distributed them to Navlakha and associates of activist Teesta Setalvad.
The police claim that Indian and foreign entities illegally injected funds worth crores into this conspiracy, with the intention of disrupting India’s sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and causing disaffection. The FIR references emails allegedly exchanged between Purkayastha, Neville, and “some other Chinese employees,” which supposedly expose their intent to challenge India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir.
The FIR also accuses the accused of attempting to disrupt supplies and essential services during the 2020–2021 farmers’ protest on the outskirts of Delhi. It alleges that they promoted and supported the agitation to damage the Indian economy and peddled a negative narrative about the government’s efforts to contain COVID-19 in India.
NewsClick vehemently denies these allegations, asserting that it has never published news or information at the behest of any Chinese entity or authority. The portal also clarified that all its funding has been transparently processed through appropriate banking channels and reported to relevant authorities as required by law.
The massive police operation involved around 400 officers who raided 30 locations in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Mumbai, and Ghaziabad. They questioned 46 individuals, including journalists, freelancers, writers, and satirists associated with NewsClick. Digital devices were seized during the questioning.
The raids and arrests have sparked widespread condemnation from opposition parties and media organizations, who view them as a threat to press freedom. Concerns are being raised about the implications for free journalism and freedom of expression in India, as the NewsClick controversy unfolds.
As the legal proceedings progress, the case against NewsClick and its associates will likely continue to be a highly contentious issue, with significant implications for the media landscape and democratic principles in India.
Team Profile
- News Writer
- Harshit Tokas is a Political Science and International Affairs Post-Graduate with a passion for understanding and analyzing complex political landscapes. Skilled in research, data analysis, and policy development. Eager to contribute his knowledge and insights to drive positive change.
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