Delhi Police Alleged Chinese Telecom Companies Financed Investigated News Website: Report

Indian police have formally charged Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi Corp and Vivo Mobile with helping to illegally transfer funds to a news portal accused of spreading Chinese propaganda, documents said on Friday.

A spokesperson for Xiaomi India vehemently denied the allegation. A spokesperson for Vivo did not immediately respond to repeated requests for comment. NewsClick said the allegations were “sustained and false.”

Media rights and opposition groups in India have said the investigation into NewsClick and related allegations is part of a crackdown on the press — a charge the government dismissed.

The allegations were made in a police complaint filed on August 17.

It was distributed to lawyers for those named in the complaint on Friday, days after officials raided NewsClick’s New Delhi office and journalists’ homes, then arrested its founder, journalist Prabir Purkayastha, and a senior administrator.

The complaint, a copy of which has been seen by Reuters, accused NewsClick’s Purkayastha of conspiring with a little-known volunteer group to disrupt Indian sovereignty and cause disaffection.

The police document says that as part of this plan, large amounts of funds were received from China to spread biased news critical of Indian policies and projects and to defend Chinese policies and programs.

“Furthermore, it is known that major Chinese telecommunications companies such as Xiaomi, Vivo, etc. have set up thousands of shell companies in India in violation of ‘India’s foreign exchange laws’ which have illicitly infused foreign funds into India in furtherance of this conspiracy,” the complaint said. .

A senior police officer confirmed that the document was genuine and made allegations against the two companies.

“UNFOUNDED, ABSURD”

“We have no information about this. We strongly deny the allegations made in the FIR against Xiaomi,” a Xiaomi India spokesperson said, referring to the First Information Report, as a police complaint is formally called in India.

“Xiaomi conducts its business in strict compliance with the applicable laws. All allegations of a conspiracy are completely unfounded, the spokesman said.

Xiaomi and Vivo are one of the biggest phone brands in India.

The police document did not explain in more detail how the information was obtained, presented evidence of the companies’ involvement, and did not say what measures the police are now considering.

NewsClick said this week that it does not publish news or information at the request of any Chinese entity or authority. Its lawyers have appealed to the Delhi High Court.

“The completely absurd nature of the allegations in the FIR clearly shows that the proceedings against NewsClick are nothing more than a blatant attempt to stifle the free and independent press in India,” NewsClick said in a statement on Friday.

“NewsClick has full faith in the Indian judicial system and is confident that its stand will be vindicated,” it added.

China has previously rejected accusations of interference in India and called on New Delhi to provide a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies.

Relations between India and China have been strained since a 2020 military clash along their disputed Himalayan border in which 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed.

Although border tensions have since eased after several rounds of military and diplomatic talks, New Delhi says relations cannot return to normal until there is a complete disengagement and de-escalation.

(Additional reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by YP Rajesh and Andrew Heavens)