In the year 2021, the Enforcement Directorate embarked on a relentless pursuit, investigating allegations of money laundering against NewsClick, a prominent media house in India. Through the money laundering of a staggering sum of 30 crore rupees, NewsClick was discovered to be channeling funds to individuals with dubious affiliations. Among these beneficiaries was Gautam Navlakha, a prime accused in the Bhima Koregaon case and a known Maoist.
As news of the investigation surfaced, the media house cried tyranny in unison, attempting to stall the case and sway public opinion in its favor. However, after years of relentless efforts, justice has finally prevailed. The once influential NewsClick, often accused of being the Indian mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, now finds its doors sealed.
Also read: One raid on NewsClick, and the “Tukde Tukde Gang” goes berserk!
The repercussions of this investigation are vast and profound. Both the founder and the human resources head of NewsClick have been apprehended, while the public face of the website, Abhisar Sharma, is now squarely under the scrutiny of both the Enforcement Directorate and the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.
So, welcome everyone on aboard, and today we shall unearth the journey of NewsClick, which claimed to be the mascot of unbridled journalism, but now finds its office sealed on serious allegations of money laundering and terrorism.
From ED Probe in 2021 to global shaming by NYT
As many as 46 individuals found themselves under the intense scrutiny of law enforcement agencies, with their digital devices and vital documents seized for examination.Among those who faced rigorous questioning were senior journalists Urmilesh, Aunindyo Chakravarty, Abhisar Sharma, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, as well as historian Sohail Hashmi, satirist Sanjay Rajoura, and D Raghunandan of the Centre for Technology and Development.
Simultaneously, while Delhi Police carried out their massive raid, Mumbai Police initiated a similar operation targeting prominent figures like Teesta Seetalvad and Sitaram Yechury, all linked to the NewsClick scandal. Hours of grueling questioning followed as the nation watched in anticipation.
At the heart of this turmoil lies the arrest of NewsClick’s Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Prabir Purkayastha, who now finds himself remanded to a week-long police custody. His associate, Amit Chakravarty, the Human Resources Head of NewsClick, faces a similar fate in the hands of the special court.
But what has brought a media outlet like NewsClick under the relentless legal spotlight? It all began with allegations of money laundering, leading to an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. In 2021, the Delhi High Court had temporarily shielded NewsClick and Prabir Purkayastha from coercive actions by the federal agency.
However, the controversy resurfaced in August when The New York Times implicated NewsClick in a global network allegedly receiving funding from American billionaire Neville Roy Singham, who purportedly had close ties to the Chinese government’s media machinery. Emails from Singham to NewsClick requesting articles highlighting China’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and a NewsClick video titled “China’s history continues to inspire the working classes” were cited as evidence.
Following this revelation, both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Economic Offences Wing (EoW) of the Delhi Police turned their attention to the media firm. A case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered against NewsClick on August 17.
ED’s investigation uncovered that out of a total of Rs 38 crore, approximately Rs 9.59 crore had entered NewsClick through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), with the remaining funds classified as service exports. The FDI itself raised eyebrows, arriving in April 2018 from a seemingly non-existent company named Worldwide Media Holdings, based in Delaware.
Allegations now suggest that the entire sum of Rs 38.05 crore traces its origins back to an undisclosed source in China. Amit Chakraborty, a shareholder at NewsClick, reportedly disclosed that Neville Roy Singham was the ultimate owner of funds originating from the United States.
The raid is not the end!
The recent blitzkrieg of a raid on NewsClick by investigative agencies has sent shockwaves through the Indian media landscape. Yet, in the grand scheme of things, it appears that this is only the beginning of a much larger revelation. The agencies seem to have struck gold with this operation.
Why is this so significant? Well, NewsClick is not just any media portal.
Apart from The Hindu, it stands alone as one of the most prominent media outlets known for its overt affinity towards China. It’s intriguing to note that the moment the raid on the portal commenced, cries of protest emerged not just from the opposition party, Congress, but also from politicians in Pakistan. The Khan market cartel, known for its influence in the Indian intelligentsia, joined in, all accusing the government of tyranny. This convergence of voices cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence.
Also read: The New York Times vs. Abhisar Sharma: Unmasking the Chinese connection
The videos published on NewsClick, openly praising China’s history and claiming to draw inspiration for the working classes from it, raise critical questions about the site’s credibility and independence. This, despite the fact that NewsClick had portrayed itself as a beacon of journalism “unfettered by fascist forces.”
Further investigation by The New York Times (NYT) shed light on the close coordination between these groups. They cross-posted articles, shared content on social media, and even had shared staff members and office spaces. This network operated in secrecy, often conducting interviews without disclosing their affiliations.
Moreover, the outcry from the usual suspects over the raid on a news portal reek of sheer hypocrisy. While the examples are numerous, one can’t help but notice their reaction to the vendetta politics of Bihar and Tamil Nadu governments against journalists like Manish Kashyap and Abhijit Majumder, who were merely stating the obvious in different incidents.
It’s clear that NewsClick isn’t about press freedom; it’s about perpetuating false narratives that undermine India’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, interests, and image, all at the behest of the Chinese deep state, fueled by dubious and illicit funding. Criticizing Prime Minister Modi or anybody else is not a crime, but that should just not serve as an excuse to engage in undermining India, whether online or offline.
The nation’s integrity and interests should always remain paramount, regardless of political affiliations. The raid on NewsClick is a stern reminder that the media’s role in safeguarding these values should never be compromised. If the journalists claim to be “The Fourth Pillar of Democracy”, they should actually stand by it.
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