Press Club of India: War of Words over Finance Stirs Poll Pot

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PCI says senior journalist Nitin Sethi used “half-truths” to target the Club ahead of elections; audited records show ₹10.67 crore from food & alcohol sales and ₹91 lakh in other income.

By TRH News Desk

New Delhi, December 9, 2025 — The Press Club of India (PCI) has pushed back sharply against allegations made by journalist Nitin Sethi, calling his statements “disinformation” and accusing him of using selective figures to cast aspersions on the Club’s finances ahead of its internal elections.

In a strongly worded statement, the PCI said Sethi highlighted gross income while “not disclosing the expense side,” thereby creating a misleading narrative. The Club released extracts from its audited balance sheet, which show:

Total revenue (FY 2024–25): ₹11,59,70,915
Total revenue (FY 2023–24): ₹11,08,12,725
Profit (FY 2024–25): ₹25,37,290
Profit (FY 2023–24): ₹17,25,205

The biggest cost heads include employee expenses (₹5.11 crore), gratuity liability (₹2.5 crore), and inventory—mainly liquor—worth ₹98.32 lakh, which the Club described as a 5–6 week stock cycle for its 5,000-member base.

The PCI insisted none of this is unusual or indicative of mismanagement, saying it employs over 110 staff members, with full benefits, and must maintain diverse inventory to meet member demand.

The argument Nitin Sethi made

Posting the same audited documents on X, Sethi argued that if the PCI earns over ₹10 crore annually from food, alcohol and beverage sales, it should commit at least 5% of this revenue—about ₹50 lakh—to fellowships for disadvantaged journalists across India. If the Club redirected its entire “other income” of around ₹1 crore, he said, the impact would be transformational.

Sethi also renewed his call for the new PCI leadership to push for the restoration of the RTI Act to its pre-DPDP form, not merely an exemption for journalists.

“We call it a club for all Indian journalists,” Sethi wrote. “The PCI must actively enable and support the fraternity, not take comfort in offering only defensive responses to the crisis our profession faces.”

What the PCI claims is misleading

According to the Club:

Sethi’s assertions ignore expenditure, employee liabilities, and statutory payments.
Inventory levels are stable and appropriate for a large institution with high daily consumption cycles.
Profit margins are modest and transparent, with no financial irregularities.

The statement ends with a warning: “Mr. Sethi’s insinuations are baseless. We urge members to refer to the full balance sheet instead of being misled by disinformation.”

A debate larger than PCI

Beneath the numbers lies a deeper tension: What should an institution claiming to represent Indian journalists prioritise—services for members, or affirmative support for the wider, struggling profession?

Sethi’s challenge forces that question to the forefront. The PCI’s rebuttal shows it is unwilling to let that challenge define its financial conduct—or its elections.

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