ED Moves Supreme Court in NewsClick Case, Flags Foreign Funds and Chinese Links
The Enforcement Directorate has approached the Supreme Court to challenge a Delhi High Court decision that quashed money laundering proceedings against digital news portal NewsClick and its founder Prabir Purkayastha. The probe agency contends that the High Court overlooked critical documentary material, email trails, and statements while examining the merits of the case prematurely. According to the investigation, around 92.3 crore rupees in alleged foreign exchange violations are under examination, including 9.59 crore rupees in foreign direct investment and 82.63 crore rupees received as software export receipts for allegedly non-existent services. Central to the probe are ties between the portal and Shanghai-based businessman Neville Roy Singham. The agency alleges that funds were routed through foreign entities to conduct an information warfare campaign against India, citing targeted editorial coverage of the farmers' protests, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, and national COVID-19 management. The central agency maintains that the foreign funding breached regulatory norms and seeks to revive proceedings before the top court.