Politics · India · 1 hr ago
Enforcement Directorate appeals order quashing NewsClick money-laundering case
India's Enforcement Directorate has appealed to the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court decision.
The High Court quashed a money-laundering case against NewsClick and its founder-editor, Prabir Purkayastha.
The case concerns a 2020 enforcement case record, known as an ECIR, and the agency says the High Court set it aside without examining the allegations.
The agency points to NewsClick's finances, saying the loss-making company received Rs 9.6 crore in foreign investment within three months of its incorporation in 2018.
It argues the High Court took too long to deliver its decision and that important prosecution arguments were left unaddressed.
The agency is asking the Supreme Court to review the decision; no further court action or timetable is given.
The Enforcement Directorate has appealed to the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s decision to quash the money-laundering case against NewsClick and its founder-editor, Prabir Purkayastha.
The High Court quashed the case on May 29, 2026, according to the Times of India.
The ED says the High Court quashed the case without examining the allegations and that its judgment came after an excessive delay.
The investigation concerns foreign investment received by PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd, which operates NewsClick.
The ED alleged that the investment structure circumvented restrictions on foreign investment in digital news media.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate has appealed against NewsClick and founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha.
- What
- It is challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to quash the money-laundering case.
- When
- The appeal was reported on October 24 and 25, 2026. The High Court issued its order on May 29, 2026.
- Where
- The appeal was filed in the Supreme Court of India; the challenged order was issued by the Delhi High Court.
- Why
- The ED alleges that the High Court quashed the case without examining its allegations and issued its judgment too late.
Enforcement Directorate
Delhi High Court
Basis for decision
Enforcement Directorate
The ED says the High Court quashed the money-laundering case without examining the allegations.
Delhi High Court
The High Court quashed the case; the articles do not state its reasons.
Timing of judgment
Enforcement Directorate
The ED says the judgment came five months and 26 days after it was reserved, contrary to Supreme Court guidelines.
Delhi High Court
The articles do not report the High Court’s response to the ED’s timing argument.
Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing registered a case concerning allegations about foreign investment received by the company that operates NewsClick.
The ED raided NewsClick’s and Purkayastha’s premises.
The Delhi High Court quashed the money-laundering case, according to the Times of India.
Reports said the ED had appealed the High Court’s order to the Supreme Court.
- Appealing agency
- Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- News platform
- NewsClick
- Founder-editor
- Prabir Purkayastha
- High Court order
- May 29, 2026
- Company under investigation
- PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd
- Alleged investment period
- 2018–19
3 sources
What people are saying
That, from a reading of the judgment it appears that due to the lapse of such period in pronouncing the judgment, several critical contentions raised by the prosecution were overlooked or left unaddressed by the high court,
No reason for any genuine investor to pay Rs. 11,510/- per share for a share whose face value was only Rs 10 at the time of allotment only 3 months back,