The Patiala House Court of Delhi has granted an additional 10 days to the Delhi Police to conclude its investigation into the case against Prabir Purkayastha, the founder and Editor-in-Chief, and Amit Chakravarty, HR Head of the news portal NewsClick.
This case is registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, on allegations that NewsClick received significant funds for pro-China propaganda.
The Additional Sessions Judge, Hardeep Kaur, acceded to the request from Delhi Police, extending the investigation period and also prolonging the judicial custody of the accused individuals. This extension marks the third time the investigation period has been prolonged upon the police's request.
Previously, Delhi Police had apprised the court that they were diligently conducting the probe, having retrieved a vast amount of data which is currently under scrutiny. The data includes nearly 4 lakh emails and over 100 digital documents.
Furthermore, one of the accused individuals is reportedly residing outside India, adding complexity to the investigation process. Delhi Police stated that they are in the process of evaluating the evidence and summarising their findings.
In October of the previous year, Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty were apprehended under the UAPA provisions. Presently, both individuals remain in judicial custody. Recently, the court permitted Amit Chakravarty to become an approver in the case.
An approver is an accomplice who decides to testify against co-accused individuals in exchange for leniency. Chakravarty's plea for bail is currently pending in the Delhi High Court.
The FIR filed by the Delhi Police's Special Cell against Purkayastha alleges that the People’s Dispatch Portal, owned and maintained by PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt. Ltd., was utilised to propagate false narratives through paid news, with the involvement of large amounts of illegally routed foreign funds.
The FIR further asserts that these funds, amounting to crores, were unlawfully injected into India by domestic and foreign entities hostile to the nation. The objective, according to the FIR, was to disrupt India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, incite disaffection, and undermine the unity, integrity, and security of the country.
The extension granted by the court underscores the continued intensity of the investigation and the significance of the allegations levelled against NewsClick. As the case progresses, stakeholders await further developments to ascertain the veracity of the allegations and the implications for the accused parties involved.
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