The Delhi Police on Tuesday conducted raids in at least 30 locations, including the houses of seven journalists and places associated with NewsClick. This comes amid allegations that the news portal had received funding from China.
The searches were conducted by officers from the Special Cell of Delhi Police. No arrests have been made so far, but sources said some journalists have been taken to police stations for questioning, ANI reported.
A fresh case has been registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell against the news portal under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The organisation is under the scanner of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) amid allegations it received funds from China.
Sources said the funds were received illegally and documents were not provided to the authorities, Indian Express reported.
One of the journalists, Abhisar Sharma, posted on X, “Delhi police landed at my home. Taking away my laptop and Phone…”
The police are also conducting raids at residences and buildings attached to the news portal and its founders/editors.
In August, a New York Times investigation had alleged that NewsClick is among organisations that were funded by a network linked to US millionaire Neville Roy Singham that pushes Chinese propaganda.
Responding to the report, NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha had said, “These are not new allegations. They have been made in the past. We will respond to them in the appropriate forum, i.e. the court, as the matter is sub judice.”
The news portal and its sources of funding came under the scanner back in 2021 when the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police filed a case against it. The Enforcement Directorate case was based on this case. The Delhi High Court gave NewsClick promoters protection from arrest, and the matter is now in court.
The news portal’s offices were also searched by Income Tax officers in 2021 in an alleged tax evasion case.
(With inputs from ANI)