The Enforcement Directorate has issued new summons to American millionaire Neville Roy Singham for questioning regarding a money laundering investigation tied to the online news portal NewsClick. Singham, accused of spreading Chinese propaganda in India, is currently based in Shanghai, China.
These fresh summons, issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), follow Letters Rogatory (LR) from a local court seeking his statement. The ED sent the summons via email and Chinese government channels through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This marks the second summons to Singham since the investigation began in 2021.
Singham gained attention in a recent New York Times article, leading Delhi Police to file an FIR against him and NewsClick founders based on evidence shared by the ED. In a statement to The Hindu in October, Singham disputed the FIR’s language, claiming it was influenced by misinformation from the New York Times. He rejected allegations of fraudulent fund infusion mentioned in the FIR and NYT article.
The New York Times report implicated NewsClick in a global network funded by Singham, allegedly closely tied to the Chinese government’s media machine. The ED initially raided NewsClick’s premises in September 2021 on money laundering charges, recording statements from over 25 individuals, including founder Prabir Purkayastha. Last year, the ED attached a south Delhi flat and fixed deposits linked to Purkayastha as part of the investigation. NewsClick has refuted the allegations, deeming them unfounded and without basis in fact or law.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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