Delhi High Court quashes proceedings against NewsClick
The Delhi High Court, in a significant judgement on 29 May 2026, has quashed both the FIR filed by the Economic Offences Wing and the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering case against NewsClick and its founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha. The court ruled that there was no crime or predicate offence to justify the proceedings and said that “the entire exercise appeared malicious, motivated, and an abuse of the legal process.”
In the judgment delivered on 29 May 2026, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna held that the allegations of FDI violations and fund siphoning were unfounded, and the court observed that “Not only are the present proceedings only mala fide, but also an arbitrary attack and abuse of powers on the free and impartial journalism of the Petitioners.”
The court’s summary rejection of the charges of money laundering levelled by the Enforcement Directorate against news portal The NewsClick bring into focus the manner in which central investigating agencies have unleashed the worst form of lawfare on independent media in India.
In August 2020, an FIR had been filed by the EOW, alleging violations of FDI regulations. Subsequently, in September 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lodged a complaint based on the EOW’s FIR. Earlier this year, on February 16, 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had imposed a penalty of ₹184 crore on news portal NewsClick and its founder Prabir Purkayastha under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) for alleged violations of foreign funding regulations. Of the ₹184 crore, a ₹120 crore penalty was slapped on NewsClick, while Purkayastha was penalised ₹64 crore.
While the order is a heartening indication that justice, even if delayed, will be done, the entire process has come at a punishing cost. Raids were conducted on the office and residence of Prabir Purkayastha and his partner and co-director, Githa Hariharan. There were raids on several journalists employed or associated with Newsclick and their electronic devices were seized, robbing them of the very tools of their trade. The subsequent shutdown of the company resulted in the loss of their livelihood.
Purkayastha is yet to be free of charges under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 and income tax laws. While he is out on bail after spending seven months in jail, two journalists – Irfan Mehraj and Rupesh Kumar – are still in jail under UAPA.
Journalists and independent news media, especially digital news portals, have been charged under various sections of the IPC, the IT Act and the draconian UAPA without any shred of evidence. They are embroiled in prolonged and painful legal battles, denied even the expectation of a fair and speedy trial.
Lawfare
Related
