‘Funds came from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty’

NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha conspired with a group PADS, police say. Pic/Twitter

The Delhi Police, in an FIR filed under anti-terror law UAPA against online news portal NewsClick, has alleged that a large amount of funds came from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and cause disaffection against the country.

It also alleged that NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha conspired with a group - People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) - to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

These foreign funds were fraudulently infused by an active member of the propaganda department of the Communist Party of China, Neville Roy Singham, it claimed.

Delhi Police provided a copy of the FIR to NewsClick on Friday, a day after a city court directed it to do so.

"Chinese telecom giants like Xiaomi, Vivo, etc., incorporated thousands of shell companies in India in violation of the PMLA, FEMA for illegally infusing foreign funds in India in furtherance of this conspiracy," said the FIR, a copy of which is with PTI.

"A false narrative was propagated to discredit the efforts of Indian government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic," Delhi Police said.

Delhi HC seeks police response

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the police on pleas challenging the arrest of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela also sought the response of the city police on the applications seeking interim release of Purkayastha and Chakravarty till pendency of their petition.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on October 9. The high court asked the investigating officer to produce the case diary before it on Monday and ensure the medical condition of Chakravarty, who is differently-abled, is not compromised.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, urged the court to grant him some time to get instructions and list the matter for Monday.

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