Alt News says FCRA violation claims categorically false, staff only gets monthly salary

Amid claims that Alt News cofounder Mohammad Zubair received donations in his personal account and the organisation took money from countries such as Pakistan in violation of the law, the fact-checking website on Monday said the claims are “categorically false” and called them “an attempt to shut down the critical work that we do”.

Zubair, who was arrested last month over a four-year-old Twitter post but is now facing other charges such as destruction of evidence and violation of the Foreign Contribution Act, was earlier accused – by the police and through uncorroborated reports in several sections of the media – of receiving lakhs of rupees.

Newslaundry had earlier reported how these reports only mentioned unnamed sources and did not carry the version of Alt News.

In a Twitter post on Monday, Alt News wrote, “Multiple allegations have been cast upon Alt News and its parent organisation Pravda Media Foundation in the last few days. The allegations claim that we have received funds from foreign sources from whom we cannot receive donations. These allegations are categorically false.”

“Our parent platform through which we receive donations does not allow receipt of funds from foreign sources and we have received donations from Indian bank accounts only. All the donations collected through these means go to the organisation’s bank account. The allegation that individuals associated with the organisation have received funds in their personal accounts is also false since the individuals associated with the organisation only get monthly remuneration...we will fight this attempt to shut us down and come out on top.”

Update:

With several social media accounts implying that the Alt News Razorpay account has been deactivated as part of the organisation’s attempt to hide its financial dealings, the organisation also clarified that its account has been blocked by the payment processing company. “We are in the process of shifting our donation system to a new platform, and will inform our readers and supporters when we have made the shift.”