Press Club Hails Delhi HC Quashing FIR, ECIR by ED in NewsClick Case

New Delhi: The Press Club of India (PCI) has welcomed the recent ruling by the Delhi High Court quashing the FIR and the subsequent Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against news portal Newsclick and its founding editor Prabir Purkayastha for allegedly violating provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which in turn led to prosecution under the draconian Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

In a statement, PCI urged the government to “refrain from carrying out such targeted persecution of journalists and the free press in the future,” noting that the court order had “rightly put an end to one of the most perverse examples of vindictiveness against press freedom,” that resulted in journalists working at Newsclick losing their jobs and valuable equipment, causing them acute financial distress.

Read the full statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT

The Press Club of India welcomes the Delhi High Court order quashing the FIR and the subsequent Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against

the news portal Newsclick and its founding editor Prabir Purkayastha for allegedly violating provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which in turn led to prosecution under the draconian Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Dismissing the FIR and ECIR, the Delhi High Court observed that the cases filed against Newsclick and Mr. Purkayastha was “a gross abuse of the process of law and is hereby, quashed.” The court further observed: “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 observations made in Delhi High Court’s order vindicate what a large section of the media fraternity believed right from the time when ED raids were carried out at multiple locations in October 2023: that a witch hunt had been launched against Newsclick and Mr. Purkayastha for practicing journalism that was inconvenient to the government. The sole purpose of the enforcement action was to induce a chilling effect into the functioning of the free press and hold it up as an example of consequences foretold for anyone who dares to question the executive or the government.

The court order has rightly put an end to one of the most perverse examples of vindictiveness against press freedom, but we must not lose sight of the fact that the actions of Delhi Police and the Enforcement Directorate resulted in journalists working at Newsclick losing their jobs and valuable equipment, causing them acute financial distress. Today, the respected news portal has been reduced to a hollow shell of its former self and its finances are in a state of disarray.

As such, we urge the government to refrain from carrying out such targeted persecution of journalists and the free press in the future. Though, the loss of human dignity and reputation can neither be measured nor compensated monetarily, it is important for the media fraternity to call upon the Press Council of India to initiate proceedings against those at whose behest the prosecution of Newsclick, Mr. Purkayastha, and journalists working at the portal was carried out and those who suffered financial losses due to deprivation of livelihood and seizure of equipment be suitably compensated. It’s the job of the Press Council of India to uphold press freedom and protect journalists. Its failure to hold to account those responsible for this blatant attack on the free press will defeat the purpose of its existence.

Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, President, PCI

Afzal Imam, Secretary General, PCI