In a noteworthy development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated an investigation into suspected breaches of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by NewsClick. This investigative move included searches carried out at both the home and workplace of Prabir Purkayastha, the founder of NewsClick, introducing a fresh phase in the continuous examination being undergone by the news portal.
The CBI is looking into NewsClick because they think it might have links to China and questionable money matters. The Enforcement Directorate had looked into this before and took away Prabir Purkayastha’s belongings.The FIR, which is like a formal complaint by the Delhi Police, says Prabir Purkayastha worked with a group called Peoples Alliance for Democracy and Secularism to spoil the 2019 general elections. It also says that Chinese companies like Xiaomi and Vivo made fake companies to put foreign money into the plan.According to secret information mentioned in the FIR, both Indian and foreign groups put a lot of money illegally, trying to harm India’s sovereignty, its land, and unity. The FIR also mentions Gautam Navlakha, an activist, and Neville Roy Singham, an American millionaire, saying they were involved in spreading Chinese propaganda.Last week, the Delhi Police arrested Prabir Purkayastha and NewsClick’s Human Resources head, Amit Chakravorty.
They were charged under a strict law called the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).NewsClick vehemently denies the charges, asserting that it has never published news at the behest of any Chinese entity and has not taken directions from Singham. The news portal emphasizes that all its funding has been through appropriate channels, reported to relevant authorities, and substantiated by the Reserve Bank of India.The unfolding investigation adds a layer of complexity to the media landscape, with industry observers closely watching the developments as NewsClick navigates through the legal challenges and refutes the allegations brought against it.
