NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, HR head sent to 10-day judicial custody in UAPA case

The duo was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on October 3 over allegations that the portal received funds for pro-China propaganda.

Updated on: Oct 10, 2023, 20:39:36 IST

By HT News Desk | Written by Aryan Prakash

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A Delhi court on Tuesday send NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and the portal's HR head Amit Chakraborty to ten-day judicial custody in the case filed under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha was arrested on October 3. (HT Photo)

The duo was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on October 3 over allegations that the portal received funds for pro-China propaganda.

Last week, the Delhi high court had refused to grant interim bail to the website's founder and HR head, saying that the allegations against them were not of such a nature where immediate relief could be given.

“The allegations don’t seem to be of such a nature that can give you immediate relief. You may be right or wrong, but we’ll have to give them (Delhi Police) a hearing,” justice Tushar Rao Gedela told senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented the two arrested men.

Last Tuesday, at least 400 Delhi Police officials had raided 30 locations in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, questioning 46 people inlcuding journalists, freelancers, writers and satirists. The crackdown took place following an investigation published in The New York Times alleged that the portal was part of a global network that received money for pushing Chinese propaganda.

The portal founded in 2009 ran into trouble in 2021 when the ED registered a case based on an FIR registered by Delhi Police's Economic Offence Wing in 2020. The allegations included overvaluing of shares, diverting funds, and violation of FDI regulations.

A year later, the central agency searched the premises of the website and its founder Purkayastha. A Delhi Police officer told HT that the company allegedly received crores of funds for the services, out of which ₹1.55 crore was made to an electrician. "Puryakastha and Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, have incorporated a company together with an American defence supplier company. We have found some e-mails exchanged between Puryakastha and Neville Roy Singham, which were aimed to tarnish India’s image at the international level,” the officer added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.