38.6c New Delhi, India, Tuesday, July 02, 2024
Crime, Police And Law

NewsClick received funds from Chinese firms to create false narratives: Delhi police FIR [Read Order]

By LAWSTREET NEWS NETWORK      07 October, 2023 07:40 PM      0 Comments
NewsClick received funds from Chinese firms to create false narratives Delhi police FIR Read Order

The Delhi police have invoked stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against portal ‘NewsClick’ functionaries as Chinese telecom companies Xiaomi and Vivo have funnelled foreign funds into India to spread “false narratives through paid news".

Police alleged that a large amount of funds came from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty and cause disaffection against the country. The FIR, however, did not disclose the exact amount that has been received by the portal.

It claimed that “since April, 2018… crores of rupees have been received by M/S PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd through illegal means during a short span of five years from M/s Worldwide Media Holdings LLC, USA and others”.

It also claimed that NewsClick founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and his associates conspired to “peddle a narrative” that Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are “disputed territories” and these “attempts to tinker” with the northern borders amount to an “act intended towards undermining” the unity and territorial integrity of India.

In the FIR, Delhi Police’s Special Cell has made claims that Purkayastha and his associates have used farmers’ protest and Covid-19 pandemic to “cause disaffection against India” by using funds provided by Neville Roy Singham, an investor who is close to the Chinese establishment, as well as trying to sabotage the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

"Such foreign funds have been fraudulently infused by Singham, resident of Shanghai and active member of the Propaganda department of Communist Party of China, through a complex web of several entities,” it stated.

Purkayastha and NewsClick HR head Amit Chakravarty, who was not initially named as an accused in the FIR as an accused registered on August 17, were arrested on October 3 after day-long searches conducted at the premises of 46 journalists, consultants and staffers in Delhi, Gurugram and Noida.

The Police claimed Purkayastha, Gautam Navlakha and Singham, who were initially named in the FIR as accused, allegedly conspired to disrupt supplies and services essential to the life of community and abet damage and destruction of property by “protraction of farmers’ protest” through “illegal foreign funding. Navlakha was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Navlakha, a shareholder in PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd since its inception in 2018, remained involved in anti-Indian and unlawful activities such as actively supporting banned Naxal organisations and having anti-national nexus with Gulam Nabi Fai, an agent of ISI of Pakistan, it said.

In what is seen as an attempt to raise questions on farmers’ protest that led to the withdrawal of three contentious farm laws, the FIR alleged that Purkayastha and others were inciting disaffection among the people, especially farmers, towards the democratically elected government, to create division and disharmony among people as part of a “larger criminal conspiracy having international ramifications”.

The NewsClick founder was also accused of conspiring with a group -- People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) -- to “sabotage” the 2019 Lok Sabha elections besides “acting against national interest” by promoting “misleading and false narrative” about Indian pharma industry as well as efforts of Modi government during Covid-19 pandemic.

“In furtherance of this conspiracy to disrupt the sovereignty of India and to cause disaffection against India, a large amount of funds was routed from China in a circuitous and camouflaged manner and paid news were intentionally peddled, criticising domestic policies, development projects of India and promoting, projecting and defending policies and programmes of the Chinese government,” the FIR claims.

It also alleged that People’s Dispatch Portal, maintained by the company running NewsClick, has been used for “intentionally peddling false narratives through paid news in lieu of crores of rupees”.  “It is further learnt that big Chinese telecom companies like Xiaomi, Vivo etc incorporated thousands of shell companies in India in violation of PMLA/FEMA for illegally infusing foreign funds in India,” it said.

The FIR claimed that Purkayastha, Singham, Geeta Hariharan (writer and partner of Purkayastha) and advocate Gautam Bhatia conspired to create a Legal Community Network to campaign for and put up a spirited defence of legal cases against these Chinese companies.

[Read Order]



Share this article:

About:

Explore Comprehensive Legal Reporting with LawStreet Journal: Your Go-To Source for Supreme Court an...Read more

Follow:
TwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

NewsClick received funds from Chinese firms to create false narratives: Delhi police FIR [Read Order] NewsClick received funds from Chinese firms to create false narratives: Delhi police FIR [Read Order]

Delhi police FIR alleges Chinese firms Xiaomi and Vivo funneled foreign funds to NewsClick to spread false narratives. Learn about the claims, arrests, and implications in this news report.

Delhi High Court asks RBI, MHA to respond on various aspects of fraudulent digital bank transactions [Read Order] Delhi High Court asks RBI, MHA to respond on various aspects of fraudulent digital bank transactions [Read Order]

Delhi High Court hears case on issues concerning fraudulent digital bank transactions and the Cyber Crime Cell's challenges in the same. Read more to know what the Court said.

FSSAI destructs almost 60,000 kg of spurious camel meat in Delhi, HC to hear cold storage plea FSSAI destructs almost 60,000 kg of spurious camel meat in Delhi, HC to hear cold storage plea

The Delhi High Court will be hearing on Monday a plea by one Jagdish Ice Factory and Md. Laeeq of Al Zubair Foods for de-sealing of its ‘cold storage’, after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sealed its premises and destroyed nearly 60,000 kg of spurious, rotting meat (allegedly camel meat) seized from there. Why did the Delhi High Court pull up the concerned FSSAI officer? Find out that and more, here.

Parliament security breach: Former DCP LN Rao calls for SOP for crime reporting [Watch Video] Parliament security breach: Former DCP LN Rao calls for SOP for crime reporting [Watch Video]

Watch exclusive interview with former DCP LN Rao on Parliament security breach

TRENDING NEWS

first-fir-under-new-laws-filed-in-delhi
Trending Crime, Police And Law
First FIR under new laws filed in Delhi

First FIR under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita filed against a street vendor in New Delhi for obstructing a road, highlighting the new criminal code in action.

01 July, 2024 10:57 AM
lawstreet-journal-in-conversation-with-worlds-largest-and-most-feared-law-firm
Trending Interview
LawStreet Journal in conversation with world’s largest and most feared law firm

Exclusive interview: Jhanak Singh, Managing Editor at LawStreet Journal, talks to John B. Quinn, Founder of the world’s largest and most feared law firm, Quinn Emanuel.

01 July, 2024 05:57 PM

TOP STORIES

supreme-court-to-hear-kejriwals-plea-against-delhi-hcs-stay-on-bail-today
Trending Judiciary
Supreme Court to hear Kejriwal’s plea against Delhi HC’s stay on bail today

The Supreme Court will hear Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against the Delhi HC’s stay on his bail in the liquor policy money laundering case today.

26 June, 2024 10:50 AM
after-detailed-order-kejriwal-withdraws-plea-from-sc-against-interim-order-of-stay-on-bail
Trending Judiciary
After detailed order, Kejriwal withdraws plea from SC against interim order of stay on bail

Delhi CM Kejriwal withdraws SC plea against HC’s interim stay on his bail in liquor policy scam, plans fresh challenge.

26 June, 2024 06:07 PM
sc-notice-to-up-govt-on-state-cong-chiefs-plea-to-quash-gangster-act-proceedings
Trending Judiciary
SC notice to UP govt on state Cong chief's plea to quash Gangster Act proceedings

SC issues notice to UP govt on plea by state Cong chief Ajai Rai to quash Gangster Act proceedings, challenging Allahabad HC order denying relief.

26 June, 2024 06:23 PM
dda-not-sharing-info-on-lgs-visit-on-tree-felling-site-sc
Trending Judiciary
DDA not sharing info on LG's visit on tree felling site: SC

SC rebukes DDA for lack of info on LG’s visit to tree felling site, urging immediate transparency and action to protect Delhi’s green cover.

27 June, 2024 01:32 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email