NewsClick Editor-In-Chief And Amit Chakravarty Arrested After Day Long Raids, Questions, Seizures

The Delhi Police arrested Prabir Purkayastha, the founder and editor-in-chief of NewsClick, on Tuesday, invoking the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and criminal conspiracy charges. These actions stem from allegations that NewsClick received funds for promoting pro-China content. In addition to the arrest of Prabir Purkayastha, the Delhi Police also sealed the office of NewsClick. Amit Chakravarty has been apprehended in connection with the same case, according to the authorities.

The Delhi Police issued a statement that read, "Regarding the search, seizure, and detentions carried out today in connection with a UAPA case registered with Special Cell, so far, two accused, Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty have been arrested.
A total of 37 male suspects have been questioned at premises, 9 female suspects have been questioned at their respective places of stay, and digital devices, documents, etc. have been seized/collected for examination" ANI quoted.

WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER ON 3RD OCTOBER: The Delhi Police's Special Cell conducted searches at 30 locations associated with the online news portal, NewsClick and its journalists as part of an ongoing investigation initiated under the anti-terrorism law, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). These actions were taken in response to allegations that the news portal had received funds for promoting pro-China propaganda. Authorities have confirmed that the proceedings related to this case are still in progress.

During these operations, law enforcement officials questioned 37 male suspects at the office of the Delhi Police Special Cell, while nine female suspects were interviewed at their respective places of residence. Digital devices, documents, and various other items have been seized for further examination as part of the ongoing investigation.

WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES SAID: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur addressed the issue and emphasized the independence and adherence to the law of the country's investigative agencies. He stated, "I need not justify the raid. If someone has done something wrong, probe agencies work on it... Nowhere is it written that if you have obtained money through illegal means or engaged in objectionable activities, then probe agencies cannot investigate that?" Thakur made these remarks while speaking to reporters in Odisha.

Following the Congress party's condemnation of the raids and questioning of journalists in the alleged NewsClick portal funding case, the BJP responded by cautioning against the Congress's stance on free speech and freedom of the press.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla remarked, "Congress preaching about the press is like Satan preaching about scriptures." He emphasized that the law would follow its due course in the Newsclick funding case and took the opportunity to bring up the imposition of Emergency by Congress as a point of criticism against the opposition party for supporting the news portal.

In response, the Congress party asserted that the raids on journalists were a diversion from the "explosive" findings of the caste survey in Bihar and the growing demand for a caste census across the country.

Meanwhile, the opposition bloc INDIA strongly criticized the raids and alleged that the BJP government's "coercive" actions were selectively targeting those who speak truth to power while not taking similar actions against those who propagate hatred and division.