NewsClick HR Head Approaches Court to Turn Approver

Amit Chakravarty, the head of human resources at NewsClick, has approached a Delhi court, seeking permission to become an approver in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA.

The case revolves around accusations that the news portal received funds to disseminate pro-China propaganda, as per court sources.

Amit Chakravarty filed the application before Special Judge Hardeep Kaur last week, seeking pardon and asserting that he possesses significant information he is willing to disclose to the Delhi Police, which is actively investigating the case.

The judge has scheduled the matter to be heard before a magisterial court for the recording of Amit Chakravarty’s statement.

Police sources indicate that a decision on supporting Amit Chakravarty’s application before the court will be made after a thorough review of his statement.

The arrest of Amit Chakravarty and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of NewsClick, Prabir Purkayastha, took place on October 3 by the Special Cell of Delhi Police.

Both individuals are presently in judicial custody.

As per the FIR, a substantial amount of funds from China was allegedly directed to the news portal with the intent to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and foster disaffection against the country.

The FIR also implicates Purkayastha in a conspiracy with the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) to undermine the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

On October 3, raids were conducted at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states targeting the individuals named in the FIR and those identified in the data analysis, as per police reports.

The offices of NewsClick and the residences of the journalists under scrutiny saw the seizure of approximately 300 electronic gadgets.

In the aftermath of the raids, the Special Cell interrogated 46 individuals, including nine female journalists.