CBI takes over probe of NewsClick for alleged foreign funding violations

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has assumed control of the investigation into alleged foreign funding violations by the NewsClick website.

This development follows searches conducted at the residences of journalists associated with NewsClick at approximately 20 locations in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai on October 3. These actions transpired shortly after a New York Times exposé suggested that the news portal had received funding from a network with affiliations to Chinese propaganda.

Previously, Prabir Purkayastha, the founder of NewsClick, was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police under the anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, as was Amit Chakravarty, the HR head of the news portal.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also initiated a case against NewsClick and examined its funding, ultimately attaching certain assets associated with the news portal. The newly registered FIR is grounded in information provided by the Enforcement Directorate.

The ED had earlier alleged that NewsClick received a sum of nearly Rs 38 crore from entities linked to China, and the utilisation of these funds is currently under scrutiny.

In August, a New York Times investigation implicated NewsClick as one of the organisations funded by a network associated with US millionaire Neville Roy Singham, which promotes Chinese propaganda.

In 2021, the offices of the news portal were searched by Income Tax officers in connection with an alleged tax evasion case.