NewsClick Row: Purkayastha, Chakravarty Produced Before Delhi Court, Prosecution Seeks 10 Days Of Judicial Custody

The Delhi Police on Tuesday produced NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty before Patiala House court.

Purkayastha and Chakravarty got arrested in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA over allegations that the news portal received money to spread pro-China propaganda.

The two were produced before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur where the prosecution sought 10 days judicial custody for the duo, which was firmly opposed by Purkayastha’s counsel, who asserted no case was made out against his client.

The counsel for Chakravarty argued he wasn’t a journalist nor had he received any payment.

The court is expected to pass an order on the police’s plea after the conclusion of the arguments.

Previously on October 3, the Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty.

Police also sealed NewsClick’s office in Delhi. As per the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal came from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country.

Also, it alleged Purkayastha conspired with a group — People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Police said, Raids were conducted at 88 locations in Delhi and 7 in other states on October 3 on the suspects named in the FIR and those that surfaced in the analysis of data.

Around 300 electronic gadgets were also seized from the offices of the NewsClick and residences of the journalists who were examined. Following the raids, 46 individuals, including 9 female journalists, were questioned by the Special Cell in Delhi and NCR.

Delhi High Court a day before reserved its order on pleas by Purkayastha and Chakravarty challenging their arrest and the subsequent 7-day police remand.