NewsClick: India police arrest journalists over China funding claims

BBC News:

Police in the Indian capital, Delhi, have raided the homes of prominent journalists and authors in connection with an investigation into the funding of news website NewsClick.

NewsClick’s founder Prabir Purkayastha and a colleague were arrested. Police also seized laptops and mobile phones.

Officials are reportedly investigating allegations that NewsClick got illegal funds from China – a charge it denies.

Critics say the move is an intentional attack on press freedom.

Started in 2009, NewsClick is an independent news and current affairs website known to be critical of the government. In 2021, it was raided by tax authorities on allegations of breaking India’s foreign direct investment rules.

The co-ordinated raids at 30 locations on Tuesday are some of the largest and most extensive on India’s media in recent years. Police later confirmed they had arrested Mr Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty, the website’s head of human resources.

“A total of 37 male suspects have been questioned at premises, nine female suspects have been questioned at their respective places of stay and digital devices, documents etc have been seized/collected for examination,” a police statement said.

Opposition leaders accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of a “fresh attack on the media”. But Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said investigative agencies were merely doing their job.