NEW DELHI: In the coming days, Delhi Police is probably going to file the first chargesheet against NewsClick’s founder and top editor, Prabir Purkayastha. According to authorities, a 10,000-page UAPA chargesheet may be submitted on Saturday.
Purkayastha has been charged by the police with conspiring with Nevil Roy Singham, a businessman of Sri Lankan and Cuban heritage who is involved in the Communist Party of China’s propaganda division.
An FIR was filed by the police in August. It said that money from China was used to support the news outlet in an effort to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and incite anti-Indian sentiment. Police also said that Purkayastha plotted to undermine the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism.
On October 2–3, almost 45 days after the FIR was filed, a special cell carried out searches at around 100 places. Purkayastha was detained under the UAPA on charges that the news outlet was paid to disseminate propaganda favouring China.
Additionally, some three hundred electronic devices were taken from NewsClick offices and the homes of journalists who were subsequently questioned by the special cell.
The police-collected “documentary evidence” will be supported by the court declaration of NewsClick HR chief Amit Chakraborty, who became an approver in January. According to UAPA, his statement, which was recorded under 164 CrPC, may be used as evidence in court.