CBI Takes Over NewsClick Foreign Funding Probe, Searches Residence Of Founder

The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation into the alleged Foreign Contribution Regulation Act violations case against NewsClick, officials have said news agency PTI. An FIR has been filed by the central agency in the matter and two locations linked to the firm was also raided.

A team of agency officials searched the residence and office of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, who was recently arrested by the Delhi Police in a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, they said.

It is alleged that the portal received foreign funds in violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) case, they said. In its probe against the portal, the Delhi Police had alleged that funds were fraudulently infused by an active member of the propaganda department of the Communist Party of China, Neville Roy Singham. The allegations have been denied by the portal. 

A Delhi court on Tuesday granted a 10-day judicial custody to NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty arrested in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA over allegations that the news portal received money to spread pro-China propaganda.

Arrested on allegations of receiving money to spread Chinese propaganda, NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha on Monday told the court that the allegations against him were false and that "not a penny has come from China". Justice Tushar Rao Gedela reserved the order on pleas by Purkayastha and the news portal's human resources department head Amit Chakravarty challenging their arrest and the subsequent 7-day police remand after the investigation agency defended its action claiming NewsClick received Rs 75 crore from a person in China.

Purkayastha and Chakravarty, who were arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on October 3, had moved the high court last week challenging their arrest and subsequent police custody, and sought immediate release as interim relief.