The Delhi High Court has reportedly granted anticipatory bail to NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha in the money laundering case against him by the Enforcement Directorate over alleged foreign funding.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna also granted him anticipatory bail in the case registered by Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police, which formed the basis of the ED's probe, Bar and Bench reported. 

In February 2021, the ED had raided the homes and offices of several individuals linked to NewsClick. NewsClick was accused of overvaluing of shares, diverting funds and violation of foreign direct investment norms.

The news outfit moved the Delhi High Court for directions to the ED to issue a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and for protection from coercive action. The court had directed no coercive action against Purkayastha in June 2021. The interim orders were extended.

The New York Times had first alleged that the news site was among Chinese propaganda outlets funded by American tech mogul Neville Roy Singham.  Later, in a four-page rebuttal, Singham had called the NYT article “misleading” and an “innuendo-laden hit piece”. 

Newslaundry has extensively reported on the NewsClick case and its fallout. Read here. 

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