Delhi Court Remands NewsClick Founder Prabir Purkayastha, HR Head To 7 Days Police Custody In UAPA Case

A Delhi court has sent NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources head Amit Chakravarty to seven days of police remand in a case filed under UAPA following allegations of the portal receiving money for pro-China propaganda.

The allegations came to light after a New York Times report published on August 5th alleged that online media outlet NewsClick had received funds from China to create an “anti-India” atmosphere. 

This was followed by a series of raids by the Delhi police into the residences of journalists and writers associated with Newsclick, which had received wide media coverage. 

Notably, prior to the NYT report, NewsClick was facing another investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) based on allegations of money laundering. This had initiated multiple raids by ED into the premises of the editors and the case is still pending.

NewsClick and Purkayastha had earlier approached the Delhi High Court seeking a copy of the ECIR registered by ED in September 2020 in the money laundering case, which had passed interim orders on June 21, 2021 and July 20 directing the ED not to take any coercive action against the website and its editor in chief.

Subsequently, ED had sought vacation of two orders passed by a co-ordinate bench on June 21, 2021 and July 20, 2021. The Delhi High Court recently issued notice on an application moved by the Enforcement Directorate.