Delhi cops file chargesheet against NewsClick in UAPA case

The Delhi Police Special Cell filed a chargesheet in the UAPA case against NewsClick on Saturday.

This comes a day after NewsClick issued a statement to reject “the allegations published in the media about the case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act being investigated by the Special Cell of Delhi Police”.

The portal said, “As we have reiterated a number of times, NewsClick has not received any funding or instructions from China or Chinese entities. Nor has it engaged in, or encouraged any ‘anti-national’ activity.”

The outlet’s founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakraborty were arrested in October last year for allegedly receiving illegal funding from China.

Chakraborty was allowed to turn approver in the case in January. He claimed that he was in possession of “material information” and was willing to disclose it to the Delhi police.

Background of the case

NewsClick was raided by the Enforcement Directorate in February 2021 in a “money laundering case pertaining to foreign funding”. In September 2021, it was the subject of a “survey” by the Income Tax department. Newslaundry was simultaneously the target of a similar I-T “survey” too.

In August 2023, the New York Times alleged that NewsClick was among Chinese propaganda outlets funded by American tech mogul Neville Roy Singham. Singham subsequently said the NYT report was an “innuendo-laden hit piece”.

In October, the Delhi police searched the homes of multiple journalists with ties to the organisation in connection with a fresh case filed under the UAPA. Their electronic devices were seized. 

The police also arrested Purkayastha and NewsClick HR head Amit Chakraborty. The FIR in the case, which also named activist Gautam Navlakha, stated that Purkayastha, Chakraborty and Singham had allegedly discussed “how to create a map of India without Kashmir and to show Arunachal Pradesh as a disputed area”.

A trial court remanded Purkayastha and Chakraborty to police custody – a decision that was subsequently upheld by the Delhi High Court. Their judicial custody was also extended.

In November, the Enforcement Directorate summoned Singham in the case. The Delhi police sought “financial” details of five companies linked to him in a letter to the US authorities.

In December, NewsClick’s bank accounts were frozen. The news outlet called the action an “administrative-legal siege” and said it has been unable to make any bank payments since the evening of December 18. 

In January, Chakraborty moved a plea to turn approver in the case, seeking pardon. He claimed he was in possession of “material information” and was willing to disclose it to the police.

NewsClick has repeatedly denied the charges against it. 

Newslaundry has reported on the police and agency action against NewsClick from the start. Check out our reportage here.