ED challenges Delhi HC verdict quashing NewsClick FIR at Supreme Court

The Enforcement Directorate has escalated its legal battle over NewsClick by approaching the Supreme Court to challenge the Delhi High Court's recent order quashing an FIR registered against the digital news outlet and its founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha. The agency also contests the high court's decision to discontinue money-laundering investigations tied to the case.

The Delhi High Court's verdict marked a significant setback for the ED's prosecution of the news platform. The court had found grounds to quash the criminal case filed against NewsClick and Purkayastha, alongside the related Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) that formed the basis for the money-laundering inquiry.

NewsClick, which covers business and political news with a focus on investigative reporting, had faced scrutiny following the ED's action. The case had drawn attention from media advocacy groups and press freedom organizations, who viewed the proceedings with concern regarding their implications for press independence.

The Supreme Court appeal now sets the stage for a higher judicial examination of the charges and investigative methods employed against the news platform. The outcome may have implications for how financial investigations into media organizations are conducted in India.

The ED typically challenges adverse high court verdicts through Supreme Court appeals to preserve its enforcement actions and investigative prerogatives in cases involving alleged financial irregularities or money-laundering.