The Delhi police accuse Xiaomi, Vivo, and others of helping transfer funds illegally to news outlet NewsClick, which is accused of spreading Chinese propaganda
The accusations extend a broader Indian enforcement arc involving Chinese handset makers. Earlier coverage included raids on Vivo's offices and a freeze of Xiaomi funds, while reports described scrutiny of alleged tax and remittance practices across the group.
The NewsClick allegation matters because it connects smartphone-company financial controls to a politically sensitive media investigation, rather than treating the companies' regulatory cases as isolated commercial disputes.
First-order effects
Xiaomi, Vivo and the other named parties face a new police allegation tied to transfers to NewsClick, increasing legal and reputational pressure alongside existing Indian scrutiny.
NewsClick's alleged funding arrangements receive added investigative attention as police connect them to companies with Chinese ownership or ties.
Second-order effects
Chinese handset makers operating in India may need to tighten documentation and review of remittances, intermediaries and local counterparties as enforcement questions widen beyond tax matters.
The allegations could make banks, payment partners and other service providers more cautious about handling transactions involving the named companies and affiliated entities.
Third-order effects
If this pattern continues, India’s smartphone market could become harder for Chinese brands to operate in through compliance and political-risk costs, not only product competition.
The combined cases point toward a more expansive use of financial and corporate enforcement in sectors where foreign ownership and information influence are politically contested.
The trend: India’s scrutiny of Chinese technology companies is broadening from commercial compliance disputes toward the political and information implications of cross-border corporate funding.
NewsClick FIR says ‘Gautam Bhatia’ is ‘key person’ who legally defended Vivo, Xiaomi. By the way, many Nationalist Anchors' shows have been sponsored by Vivo and Xiaomi. https://www.newslaundry.com/ ...
@cryptic_miind
Nimo Tai on x
Delhi police has named Xiaomi and Vivo as ‘Co-conspirators’ in the UAPA case against Newsclick as their fund is ‘Terror Fund’. Going by the same yardstick, why hasn't any FIR been filed on these channels for accepting the ‘Terror Funds’ from the same companies ? Why exempt... [im…
@svaradarajan
Siddharth on x
If @NarendraModi is allowing Xiaomi to operate in India despite police claiming to have evidence it is fomenting terrorism to destabilise India, is this because Xiaomi gave 10cr to PM CARES? Has it also given electoral bonds to BJP? Transparency needed. https://m.thewire.in/...
@pun_starr
@pun_starr on x
Yesterday, bhakts were tweeting from their Xiaomi and Vivo phones to condemn Newsclick for taking ‘Chinese funding’ to spread Chinese propaganda. Today, they came to know that the ‘Chinese funding’ was from Xiaomi and Vivo. So, now they're silent.
@jairam_ramesh
Jairam Ramesh on x
Delhi Police claims that Chinese companies that donated crores to PM CARES Fund is at centre of an international terrorist conspiracy to destabilise India! So why isn't the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Fund liable to be booked in the FIR? https://m.thewire.in/...
@vijaita
Vijaita Singh on x
Jason Pfetcher, a U.S based lawyer, said People's Support Foundation (PSF) was created in 2017 by funds donated from the sale of ThoughtWorks, an IT consultancy firm founded by Neville Roy Singham. All funds donated to PSF came from the sale of ThoughtWorks. PSF has never...
@vijaita
Vijaita Singh on x
Worldwide Media Holdings (WMH), the American investor in NewsClick, on Friday said it “strictly followed all aspects of Indian law” before investing in the news portal in 2018 and that false allegations continued to circulate despite all the facts WMH had given to the Indian...
@t_d_h_nair
Ravi Nair on x
From Delhi Police FIR against NewsClick: “It is further learnt that big Chinese Telecom companies like Xiaomi, Vivo, etc. incorporated thousands of shell companies in India in violation of PMLA/FEMA for illegally infusing foreign funds in India in furtherance of this conspiracy..…
@officialsauravd
Saurav Das on x
Delhi Police creating all kinds of stories in the NewsClick Terror FIR, now includes @gautambhatia88 as a “key person” helping Chinese companies put up “spirited [legal] defence” in India. No wonder nobody trusts the state. Highly condemnable. https://thewire.in/...
@sherbir
@sherbir on x
If this is accurate, it's absolutely bizarre to accuse a lawyer of complicity in a crime for making a “spirited defence”. That's the only kind of defence a lawyer ought to make. PN Lekhi and Jethmalani will be turning in their graves. https://thewire.in/...
@pun_starr
@pun_starr on x
- Vivo sponsored IPL - Xiaomi donated ₹10 cr to PM Cares - Both are sponsors of prominent Godi media channels Till there, everything is fine. But suddenly there's a problem if they sponsor Newsclick?
@vijaita
Vijaita Singh on x
Delhi Police FIR against NewsClick is a garden variety of allegations: conspiring to provide legal aid to Chinese telecom companies such as Xiaomi and Vivo; acting against the national interest by promoting a false narrative against India's pharmaceutical industry and the...
@sritara
Sridhar V on x
Super tongue in cheek reporting on the FIR against @newsclickin “Bhatia has also authored two books on science fiction though many in the legal fraternity are likely to place the police FIR in that category.” Well, there will be humour even in dark times...https://thewire.in/...
@baxiabhishek
Abhishek Baxi on x
Vivo and Xiaomi be like... took us so much effort to calm the shit down and NewsClick mess has brought us in the dodgy spotlight again. For Xiaomi though... unlike the time with Manu, the govt would be wary of any hanky panky because their country head now is a British national.
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Indian police accuse Chinese telcos of funding investigated news portal