The Delhi Police has filed an extensive chargesheet against Newsclick and its founder Prabir Purkayastha, accusing them of various offenses including terror funding and dissemination of Chinese propaganda.
The chargesheet, comprising nearly 8,000 pages with annexures, also implicates Purkayastha in connection with the farmers' protests and the 2020 Delhi riots.
Purkayastha is under investigation for allegedly receiving funds to propagate Chinese propaganda in India, under the anti-terror law UAPA. He and Newsclick's head of HR, Amit Chakravarty, were arrested on October 3 last year by the Delhi Police's Special Cell and have since been held in Delhi's Tihar Jail.
The chargesheet alleges that Purkayastha was involved in collecting funds for terrorist activities, including supporting banned organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba. Funds amounting to ₹91 crore were channeled through Newsclick for such activities, according to the chargesheet.
Purkayastha is accused of promoting Chinese territorial claims by altering maps to exclude Kashmir and Aksai Chin. Newsclick is also accused of engaging in a disinformation campaign, particularly regarding protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The chargesheet further alleges that Purkayastha conspired to instigate the farmers' protests and Delhi riots while funding various terrorist organizations. Newsclick is accused of mobilizing masses against the CAA/NRC, spreading misinformation, and inciting hatred.
Additionally, Purkayastha is accused of conspiring to publish articles against Indian-made vaccines, allegedly in collaboration with an American millionaire, Neville Roy Singham, to defame the Indian government.
The Delhi Police claims Purkayastha had active links with the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and funded their activities. Purkayastha and Newsclick are also accused of promoting Chinese propaganda through their platform, allegedly receiving substantial funds for this purpose.
The Patiala House Court in Delhi has acknowledged the chargesheet and scheduled May 31 for the hearing.