“No FIR Copy, Targeted Since 2021” Newsclick Statement
NewsClick released an official statement on Wednesday stating that the government has not provided any FIR copy nor has informed about the exact particulars of the offences which has been charged against the digital news organization. On October 3, the Special Cell of the Delhi police conducted raids at NewsClick’s offices and residences of journalists and employees.
The statement was released after NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and administrative officer Amit Chakraborty were taken for seven days of police custody.
“Electronic devices were seized from the NewsClick premises and homes of employees, without any adherence to due process such as the provision of seizure memos, hash values of the seized data, or even copies of the data,” the statement said.
NewsClick said that the offices have been sealed to prevent them from reporting and regarded them as a “blatant attempt”. They said that the case is filed under the anti-terror law which shows the government’s intent to treat criticism as sedition or “anti-national” propaganda. They have also expressed their condemnation against the actions of government which refused to respect journalistic independence.
“Yet, a government that has not been able to substantiate any charges against NewsClick despite being in possession of all its information, documentation and communications, needed a motivated and bogus article published in The New York Times to invoke the draconian UAPA and attempt to shut down and stifle independent and fearless voices that portray the story of the real India – of peasants, of labourers, of farmers, and other oft-ignored sections of society,” the statement read.
The New York Times has earlier published a report claiming that the news portal has received funds from Shanghai-based American businessman Neville Roy Singham for pushing Chinese propaganda.
“NewsClick has been targeted by a series of actions by various agencies of the Government of India since 2021. Its offices and residences of officials have been raided by the Enforcement Directorate, the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police and the Income Tax Department,” the statement read.
NewsClick said that the Delhi Police’s Special Cell, during the raids, did not refer to any content that they consider to be Chinese propaganda. And they have been in the central agencies radar since 2021. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the organisation alleging unlawful foreign funding. The statement noted that no case has been registered by ED accusing of money laundering.
However, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur insisted that the investigating agencies are independent and work in accordance with the law.
