Delhi High Court quashes all criminal cases against NewsClick, calls police and ED actions an abuse of law
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna struck down an economic offences FIR and an Enforcement Directorate case, ruling that their continuation amounted to a gross misuse of legal process.
The Delhi High Court on 10 June quashed both a criminal case filed by Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing and a related Enforcement Directorate proceeding against NewsClick, the independent digital news outlet, delivering a sweeping legal victory to the organisation and its founder Prabir Purkayastha.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna was categorical in her language, finding that continuing the EOW's First Information Report constituted what she termed a "gross abuse of the process of law." The court simultaneously quashed the Enforcement Case Information Report that the ED had registered in connection with the same matter.
Both cases centred on allegations that NewsClick had received foreign funding in violation of India's foreign direct investment regulations. Authorities had contended that money channelled into the outlet breached FDI norms, providing the legal basis for the economic-offences and money-laundering proceedings.
The Hindu, reporting from the verdict, highlighted the court's pointed criticism of the agencies involved, emphasising the judiciary's characterisation of the investigations as an overreach rather than a legitimate exercise of law-enforcement power. Mint, citing legal news service LiveLaw's coverage of the ruling, focused on the court's findings about an "abuse of powers," framing the decision primarily through its regulatory and procedural dimensions.
NewsClick and Purkayastha had previously faced significant pressure from authorities. In October 2023, Delhi Police conducted raids on the outlet's offices and the residences of journalists associated with it, and Purkayastha was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Supreme Court had subsequently ordered his release, finding procedural irregularities in the arrest itself.
The outlet, which covers politics, labour issues and social movements, had long maintained that the cases against it were motivated by its editorial stance and were intended to suppress independent journalism. Press-freedom organisations had cited the NewsClick prosecutions among a broader pattern of legal pressure on critical media in India.
The High Court's ruling removes two of the primary legal instruments that had been used against the organisation, but the full legal picture for NewsClick and associated individuals may not be entirely resolved, as the UAPA case that led to Purkayastha's arrest involved separate proceedings not addressed in Tuesday's order.
It remains unclear whether the Delhi Police or the ED will challenge the High Court's ruling before a higher bench. The decision is expected to be closely scrutinised by legal observers tracking the intersection of foreign-funding regulations and press freedom in India.