Newsclick founder, HR head in judicial custody for 10 days

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday sent NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty to 10-day judicial custody. Both are arrested in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA over allegations that the news portal received money to spread pro-China propaganda.

On Tuesday afternoon, the two were produced before additional sessions judge Hardeep Kaur. The prosecution sought 10 days of judicial custody for the duo, which was firmly opposed by Purkayastha’s counsel, who asserted that "prima facie" no case was made out against his client.

"What terrorist act have I committed? How can I, as a journalist, commit such an act? What is the allegation in the FIR? That we have done critical reporting of (the government’s) Covid policy and farmers’ protests. Is that terrorism?" the lawyer said.

The counsel said if there was even an iota of doubt about their guilt, sending



them to judicial custody will be a "travesty of justice".

The counsel for Chakravarty argued he is neither a journalist nor has he received any payment. "There is no such allegation that there is a map of India, published by NewsClick, that shows India without Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh," he said.

Countering the arguments, the special public prosecutor Atul Shrivastava said the case was at a stage when evidence was still being collected and the prosecution has sought judicial custody for the accused in all "fairness".

The special cell of the Delhi police had arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty on October 3. The police also sealed NewsClick’s office in Delhi.

According to the FIR, a large amount of funding for the news portal came from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and cause disaffection against the country.