Indian journalists Anand RK and Suparna Sharma have won the Pulitzer Prize in the Illustrated Reporting and Commentary category for their work on digital surveillance and cyber fraud, earning global recognition for highlighting emerging tech-driven crimes.
The award, shared with Bloomberg’s Natalie Obiko Pearson, was given for the project “trAPPed”, which tells the story of a neurologist in India who became a victim of “digital arrest” through her phone. The project uses a mix of visuals and text to highlight the growing global threat of online scams and surveillance.
Administered by Columbia University, the Pulitzer Prizes are among the highest honours in journalism, literature and music.
Anand RK, a Mumbai-based illustrator and alumnus of Sir JJ School of Art, previously won the Eisner Award in 2021. He has worked on major graphic novels with publishers such as DC Comics, Dark Horse and Image Comics, along with commercial projects for clients including Hyundai and the Indian Navy.
Suparna Sharma is a freelance investigative journalist and editor with over 30 years of experience covering crime, conflict, disasters and corruption. Her 2023 Al Jazeera investigation into deaths at a Delhi elder-care facility exposed alleged negligence and profit-driven practices in the sector and attempts to suppress findings.
She has also reported on retaliation against women wrestlers who accused India’s wrestling chief of harassment, and on political consultancy networks influencing voter behaviour. Her work has appeared in major outlets including Al Jazeera, BBC Africa, The Indian Express and Frontline, and she has held senior editorial roles across leading Indian newspapers.
