New Delhi
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plans to question Amit Chakraborty, the former head of Human Resources at NewsClick, in Tihar Jail. This is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by the news portal. According to officials, Chakraborty will be interviewed as a witness for two hours on Wednesday afternoon about supposed investments from US-based Worldwide Media Holdings (WMH) into PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt.
Chakraborty is a shareholder in PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt and was responsible for coordinating funds from WMH. He has been in Tihar Jail since his arrest by the Delhi Police Special Cell on October 3 last year under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The CBI received permission from the special court to question him.
NewsClick and its founder Prabir Purkayastha are under investigation for FCRA violations following a complaint by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The CBI alleges that NewsClick received an unexplained export remittance of about Rs 28.46 crore from four foreign entities, violating FCRA rules. NewsClick has denied all allegations of running Chinese propaganda. In March, the Delhi Police filed an 8,000-page charge sheet against NewsClick, claiming it received funds from Neville Roy Singham, a member of the Communist Party of China’s propaganda department.
