NewsClick Received Chinese Funding to Disrupt India’s Sovereignty: Delhi Police

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has filed an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against news portal NewsClick, alleging that it received significant funding from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty and generate disaffection against the country.

The FIR claims that Chinese telecom giants established numerous shell companies in India to funnel funds to NewsClick in a concealed manner. This funding was used to spread paid news critical of India’s domestic policies and development projects, while also endorsing and defending Chinese government policies and programs.

The FIR also implicates Prabir Purkayastha, the founder and editor-in-chief of NewsClick, in a conspiracy with the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) to disrupt the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Purkayastha and Amit Charavarty, the head of the human resources department at NewsClick, have been arrested in connection with the case.