Delhi HC Grants Anticipatory Bail to NewsClick Founder Prabir Purkayastha

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday July 23, 2025 granted anticipatory bail to Prabir Purkayastha, the editor-in-chief and founder of independent news portal NewsClick, in connection with a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and a separate FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police concerning allegations of foreign funding. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna delivered the judgment, disposing of bail pleas that were filed by Purkayastha in 2021.

Purkayastha had been under interim protection from arrest since June 2021. The court had extended the interim relief periodically over the past three years while hearing the matter. The allegations against PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd, the company behind NewsClick, revolve around alleged violations of foreign direct investment (FDI) norms—specifically, that the company received FDI by overvaluing its shares in order to bypass sectoral FDI caps.

Legal counsel representing Prabir Purkayastha have consistently maintained that the charges are unsubstantiated and form part of a broader campaign against independent media voices. They argued that the funding received by NewsClick was entirely lawful, transparent, and compliant with Indian laws governing foreign investment.

Activists and journalists have been long arguing that the case reflects growing institutional pressure on independent media organizations critical of government policies. NewsClick has been known for its critical reportage on issues like workers' rights, public health, agrarian distress, and government accountability.

The ED first raided NewsClick’s offices and residences of key personnel, including Prabir Purkayastha, in February 2021. The search and seizure operations were carried out as part of the agency’s investigation into alleged violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The case stemmed from an FIR filed by the Delhi Police’s EOW, which alleged that NewsClick received foreign funds in violation of FDI norms. Based on that FIR, the ED initiated its own proceedings.

However, even after extensive raids and document seizures, no formal charge sheet has been filed against Purkayastha or NewsClick under the PMLA, casting doubts on the strength and intent of the case.

While the detailed order of the Delhi High Court is yet to be made public, the ruling is expected to set an important precedent regarding the use of investigative agencies against media outlets and the thresholds required to justify coercive actions such as arrest.