NewsClick anti-terror case: HR head moves court to turn approver
NewsClick's human resources (HR) head, Amit Chakraborty, has reportedly moved the Patiala House Court in Delhi to become an approver or a witness for the prosecution. The Delhi Police earlier registered a case against Chakraborty and the media company's founder, Prabir Purkayastha, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Chakraborty and Purkayastha were arrested on October 3 by the Delhi Police's Special Cell under the anti-terror law over allegations of spreading pro-China propaganda in exchange for money.
Why does this story matter?
The development came days after the Patiala House Court granted the Delhi Police a 60-day extension of judicial custody to finish its probe into the case against NewsClick's founder and HR head. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also conducted searches at the media firm's premises. Furthermore, a case has been filed against the company under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
NewsClick HR chief ready to reveal material information
Chakraborty moved the application on Saturday before Special Judge Hardeep Kaur, reports said on Monday. The news portal's HR chief sought pardon in the case and asserted he held material information that he was willing to reveal to the police. Following this, Special Judge Kaur posted the case before a magisterial court to record Chakravarty's official statement.
What triggered anti-terror NewsClick probe
The ongoing probe started in August after The New York Times (NYT) reported NewsClick received Rs. 38 crore from Neville Roy Singham, a United States (US)-based millionaire. He is allegedly linked to the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s propaganda arm. A Singham-linked outlet co-produced a YouTube show with Shanghai's propaganda department. The 69-year-old also contributed to Tricontinental, a left-wing research tank whose executive director is West Bengal-born Vijay Prashad, the nephew of Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat.
ED summoned American millionaire Singham
In November, the ED summoned Singham for questioning in the case. Quoting sources in the know, NDTV reported that this investigation process started after a Delhi court issued a Letter Rogatory, an official request to Chinese courts for assistance. While Chinese authorities refused to serve a more direct summons last year, the US-based millionaire denied all charges against him.
Know about case against NewsClick
According to the FIR, NewsClick's founder and HR head received money to promote pro-China propaganda in India. It also claims that a significant amount of these funds came from Beijing to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and harm the nation. Furthermore, Purkayastha is accused of conspiring with the People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) organization to disrupt the polling process during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
NewsClick premises were also raised earlier
Earlier this year, the ED conducted raids on the news company's premises to investigate its funding sources. The Delhi Police's Special Cell also raided around 100 locations across the country linked to NewsClick. Last month, Purkayastha told the Delhi High Court the investigating agencies were abusing the due process to subject the company to "criminal prosecution" to create a "chilling effect." "There is nothing here that needs to be investigated," he claimed.
