NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty
Officials announced on Wednesday that NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty, who were detained in a case under the anti-terror law UAPA after charges the portal received funding for pro-China propaganda, had been sentenced to seven days of police remand.
The case started here
On August 17, investigation authorities in India filed a case against the NewsClick website and its journalists, weeks after a New York Times article claimed that the website had received funding from an American millionaire who, according to the Times, had funded the spread of “Chinese propaganda.”
In a case filed under the anti-terror statute UAPA in response to charges that it received funding for pro-China propaganda, Delhi Police on Tuesday searched 30 addresses affiliated with online news portal NewsClick and its journalists. Later that day, the office was shut.
Multiple searches conducted in Delhi NCR region before the police remand of NewsClick Founder
According to the police, the Delhi-NCR region was the focus of the Special Cell searches, which started early in the morning. A forensic team was there when founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha was brought to the NewsClick headquarters in south Delhi.
In line with its investigation, the Delhi Police also closed down NewsClick’s office. Journalists Urmilesh, Aunindyo Chakravarty, Abhisar Sharma, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, a historian named Sohail Hashmi, and D Raghunandan from the Centre for Technology & Development were among those questioned.
According to sources, police questioned people on a variety of topics, including their journeys abroad, Shaheen Bagh protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and the farmers’ agitation.
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Information from Delhi Police
“Regarding the search, seizure and detentions carried out today in connection with a UAPA case registered with Special Cell, so far, two accused, Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty have been arrested.” Delhi Police informed.
“A total of 37 male suspects have been questioned at premises, 9 female suspects have been questioned at their respective places of stay and digital devices, documents etc. have been seized or collected for examination”, Delhi Police added.
In order to look into the firm’s funding sources, the Enforcement Directorate had previously conducted raids on the company’s premises. According to officials, the Special Cell is currently continuing the searches based on the information given by the central agency.
According to them, the Special Cell has opened an investigation and filed a new complaint under the anti-terror law known as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
