The Patiala House Court of Delhi extended judicial
custody of NewsClick’s founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha and HR
head Amit Chakravarty till October 25.
Purkayastha and Chakravarty were remanded for 10 days
to judicial custody in the matter by the court which ended on Friday. The
Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur today extended their judicial custody by
five days.
They were arrested recently by Delhi Police in a case
filed under the provisions of the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act (UAPA) following allegations that news portal NewsClick
received huge money for pro-China propaganda.
Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakraborty were produced
in court on Friday in the trial after the end of their judicial remand period.
Earlier, the lawyer argued on behalf of Prabir
Purkayastha that he was questioned and he answered all their queries.
“In the matter of EoW (Delhi Police) and ED, I was
protected by the Delhi High Court in 2021, whose orders are continuing even
today. Submitted that the allegations made in FIR are absolutely absurd. There
is no allegation that I used bomb dynamite or any other explosive substance.
There is no allegation that I used any criminal force or that I caused the
death of any public functionary,” stated the lawyer representing Purkayastha.
“How can by reporting, by acting or by having a
profession as a journalist, can I commit a terrorist act? If I through any
article raised questions against the Central Government’s COVID policy, is that
an act of terrorism,” he argued before the court.
The lawyer further submitted that his client is a
journalist with repute and a renowned person for an independent voice.
“But they (Agency) filed FIR under stringent sections
of UAPA. The agency’s allegation is that I’m associated with Gautam Navlakha
who is facing UAPA charges. And since he is facing UAPA charges, you also face
UAPA charges. Mere association with someone has become a crime? He is a fellow
journalist. I have known him since 1991. Now you are suddenly targeting me
because of this association,” the lawyer submitted.
Advocate Rohit Sharma appearing for Amit Chakravarty
HR Head said, “I am not a journalist or editor. I didn’t write any article. I
am a poor person having the responsibility of my family. I am a handicapped
man. Since 2021 I have been summoned by agencies on various occasions and a lot
of my information about bank accounts, emails – everything has been seized. I’ve
never been arrested. I’m not responsible in any way for the content that is
published on the website and I perform administrative tasks, but I don’t know
why I have been suddenly arrested in the case.”
The Delhi Police’s Special Cell in its FIR against Prabir
Purkayastha stated that People’s Dispatch Portal, owned and maintained by PPK
Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd has been used for intentionally peddling false
narratives through paid news in lieu of crores of rupees of illegally routed
foreign funds as part of a conspiracy.
Delhi Police FIR further stated that foreign funds in
crores have been infused illegally in India by Indian and Foreign entities
inimical to India in pursuance of conspiracy with the intention to disrupt the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, to cause disaffection against
India and to threaten the unity, integrity, security of India.
Foreign funds in crores have been infused illegally in
India by Indian and Foreign entities inimical to India in pursuance of
conspiracy with the intention to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of India, to cause disaffection against India and to threaten the
unity, integrity, security of India, stated in FIR.
ANI
