Foreign funds charges false, attempt to shut us down: Alt News

Delhi Police had said that Pravda Media, under which Alt News operates, received over Rs 2 lakh through various transactions

Fact-checking website Alt News on Monday rejected allegations by the Delhi Police that it had received funds from foreign sources in violation of laws, saying that such claims were aimed at shutting it down.

In a statement, it said, “The allegations claim that we have received funds from foreign sources from whom we cannot receive donations. These allegations are categorically false."

Also Read | Alt News parent company Pravda Media received Rs 2 lakh from foreign countries: Police

“Our payment platform through which we receive donations does not allow receipt of funds from foreign sources, and we have received donations from Indian bank accounts only,” the statement posted on Twitter said.

Delhi Police had claimed that Pravda Media, which owns Alt News, received over Rs 2 lakh through various transactions where either the mobile phone number or the IP address was of foreign countries.

Alt News said all donations collected through these means go to the organisation’s bank account.

Also Read | Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair denied bail, sent to 14-day judicial custody

The Patiala House court in Delhi on Saturday sent the Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, arrested last Monday, to judicial custody for 14 days.

Alt News also dismissed allegations that Mohd Zubair, who was arrested last week on charges of creating communal disharmony, received donations in his personal account.

“The allegation that individuals associated with the organisation have received funds in their personal accounts is also false as individuals associated with the organisation only get monthly remuneration,” the statement said.

“All of this is an attempt to shut down the very critical work that we do, and we will fight this attempt to shut us down and come out on top,” it added.