Media: Coverage

A huge crowd gathered at the Press Club of India in Delhi on Wednesday to show solidarity for press freedom and voice their protest against the police action on people associated with news portal NewsClick. “Free the press”, “stop harassing Indian media”, "No to misuse of UAPA" were the words written on some of the banners in the hands of the journalists, academicians, authors and others gathered there. Earlier, 16 journalist bodies wrote to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud urging him to ensure the protection of journalists against unwarranted raids and arrests.

Indian law enforcement uses anti-terror laws on journalists.

Indian police expanded on Thursday an investigation into suspected illegal foreign funding of a news portal, accusing it in court of having sought to create an incorrect map of the country and also sabotage general elections in 2019.

Police carried out early morning raids yesterday on the NewsClick office and the homes of almost 50 journalists, activists, and comedians across India under anti-terrorism laws, deepening concerns over a crackdown on freedom of expression in the country. The journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, the activist Teesta Setalvad, and the comedian Sanjay Rajoura were also among those raided and taken in for police questioning. After the questioning Paranjoy Guha Thakurta told journalists that a FIR has been lodged ‘apparently’ under the Unlawful Activities Preventions Act.

NewsClick journalists who were raided by Delhi Police on Tuesday in connection with a probe into the news portal's alleged foreign funding, were questioned on whether they had reported on matters like the 2020 Delhi riots, the farmers’ protest against the Narendra Modi government’s farm laws and the COVID-19 crisis.

Even though the raids on NewsClick and its journalists came two months after a New York Times investigation on the portal, the Delhi Police’s probe began much earlier in August 2020 when its Economic Offences Wing registered a case against the website.

The protesting journalists said they are getting support from different media organisations and press clubs across the country.

The journalists’ collectives referred back to the case of Father Stan Swamy as a reminder of the indifference authorities ‘show under the guise of combating terrorism’

Journalists had initially planned a protest march to Jantar Mantar, but permission was denied.

“Nature of employment” at the NewsClick news portal, coverage of the 2020 Delhi Riots and calls made to the US — these were some of the questions allegedly put to journalists questioned Tuesday in a fresh case against the news portal, registered under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, for alleged receipt of funds from China.