It is no surprise that the founder of NewsClick, Prabir Purkayastha, and the HR head, Amit Chakravarty, find themselves at the center of a controversy involving allegations of trying to show India in bad light. Police sources claim that the sold out journalists at NewsClick promoted a narrative that Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are disputed territories among other contentious matters.
This revelation comes amidst their recent arrests by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police and interrogation under the anti-terror law.
The Delhi Police, in its remand application, has revealed an intricate web of conspiracy, alleging that Purkayastha and others conspired to peddle a narrative, both globally and domestically, that Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are not part of India. These allegations suggest a deliberate attempt to tamper with India’s northern borders, undermining the nation’s unity and territorial integrity while the narrative took sides with its master, China.
The saga takes an even darker twist with the involvement of Gautam Navlakha, a shareholder in NewsClick, who stands accused of engaging in anti-Indian activities, including support for banned naxalite organisations and alleged links to Pakistan’s ISI.
Furthermore, the investigation reveals the siphoning off of foreign funds by Purkayastha and his associates, suggesting a financial dimension to the conspiracy. These funds, intended for nefarious purposes, have allegedly been used to disrupt essential services, damage property.
Apart from such “services”, NewsClick was also trying to prolong the “farmers’ protests”. The same protests that were funded by suspicious foreign entities with toolkit support from the “great crusader” of climate change, Greta Thunberg.
The plot thickens as the police claim that a false narrative was perpetuated to discredit the Indian government’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perhaps the most alarming revelation is the involvement of NewsClick in sabotaging the electoral process during the 2019 general elections. It is alleged that People’s Dispatch Portal, owned and operated by NewsClick, was used to propagate false narratives through paid news, funded by illegally routed foreign funds.
The evidence, as presented by the police, includes emails exchanged between Purkayastha, Chakravarty, and other individuals, revealing discussions on how to create a map of India without Kashmir and portray Arunachal Pradesh as a disputed area. Astonishingly, the accused are said to have received over ₹115 crore under the guise of foreign funds to achieve these objectives.
In a sweeping operation, the police conducted raids at numerous locations across Delhi and other states, resulting in the questioning of 46 suspects and the seizure of digital devices and documents.
NewsClick, a rabid leftist news portal, now faces scrutiny for alleged violations of foreign investment norms and links to China. The arrests of Purkayastha and Chakraborty came on the heels of a New York Times investigation that raised questions about the portal’s financial ties to entities pushing Chinese propaganda.
The case against NewsClick and its executives, including Mr. Purkayastha, was registered on August 17, 2023, invoking the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The charges against the media organisation include terrorist activities, terror funding, criminal conspiracy, and promoting enmity between groups. The case revolves around ₹38 crore in foreign funding allegedly received by the news portal, with Chinese entities suspected of injecting funds to propagate pro-Chinese content.
The investigation has also revealed questionable financial transactions, including foreign direct investment and export remittances. It raises questions about the opaque source of foreign funds and their alleged use for purposes that run counter to India’s interests.