New Delhi, Nov 16: In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate has issued summons to American millionaire Neville Roy Singham in connection with the NewsClick terror case. Notably, he has been involved in spreading Chinese propaganda worldwide after his name surfaced in a report by The New York Times.

  

 

The federal agency has sent the summons to Singham in China via Ministry of External Affairs. Singham, who has been named as an accused in the NewsClick terror case, has earlier rejected the allegations that he is running a funding network affiliated to the Chinese government's propaganda arm to spread China's talking points around the world, including in India through media outlet NewsClick.

 

However, the Delhi Police's special cell has named him as an accused in the case, in which the editor and an employee of NewsClick were arrested. Close to 100 persons, including journalists and activists, were also raided last month.

 

 

New York Times reported earlier this year that Singham and his activist wife are being probed by US agencies too for promoting Beijing's agenda — charges that he has contested.

 

The ED, meanwhile, has decided to seek custodial interrogation of NewsClick promoter Prabir Purkayastha, currently in judicial custody after he was arrested by Delhi Police on charges of alleged anti-India activities.

 

Purkayastha and NewsClick's HR head Amit Chakravarty were arrested on October 3 under anti-terror law UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) for running Chinese propaganda on the news portal.

 

 

The ED has claimed huge funds were routed to NewsClick by entities controlled by Singham allegedly to promote Chinese propaganda on Belt and Road Initiative projects in developing countries and its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. NewsClick has denied the charge in public and also in courts.