NewsClick Case: Delhi court extends judicial custody of Prabir Purkayastha, Amit Chakravarty

A Delhi court on Monday extended the judicial custody of NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty in a case It was filed under the anti-terrorism law UAPA, accusing the news portal of accepting money to spread pro-China propaganda. .

While Purkayastha is an accused in the case, former co-accused Chakravarty recently turned in favor of the matter.

Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur on Monday extended their judicial custody till February 17, 2024. Earlier this month, a judge allowed Chakravarty to become the approver in the case.

Chakravarty, in his plea seeking mercy in the matter, claimed that he had “vital information” about the case which he was willing to disclose to the Delhi Police. The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty on October 3 last year.

The FIR alleged that the news portal received significant funding from China with the aim of “disrupting India’s sovereignty” and triggering dissatisfaction against the country. It also accused Purkayastha of conspiring with the 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 seven locations in other states on October 3, targeting suspects named in the FIR and those identified during data analysis. About 300 electronic items were also seized from NewsClick’s offices and the homes of journalists inspected.

After the raid, the special team interrogated 46 people, including nine female journalists.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)