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Delhi Police Files Chargesheet In UAPA Case Against NewsClick Founder-Editor

On Saturday, the Delhi Police Special Cell filed a chargesheet in a UAPA case against Prabir Purkayastha, the founder-editor of NewsClick. The chargesheet, spanning over 8,500 pages, alleges that the accused in the NewsClick case received a substantial amount, which was then utilized to “destabilize the country.”

Purkayastha, along with HR head Amit Chakraborty, was arrested on October 3 for allegedly receiving illegal funding from China through the United States.

The chargesheet also names NewsClick, the news portal, as an accused. In December, the Special Cell sought an extension from Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur until February to file the chargesheet.

They later requested another extension until March. Recently, the Delhi Police received a 10-day extension to file the chargesheet.

The Special Cell initiated an FIR in August under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In November, both individuals were remanded to judicial custody for a month.

The FIR also mentioned Prabir Purkayastha’s long-standing association with rights activist Gautam Navlakha, dating back to 1991, who is currently under house arrest in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case.

The FIR outlined several allegations against Prabir Purkayastha, including attempts to undermine India’s territorial integrity by portraying Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as separate entities, undermining the government’s efforts to combat Covid, providing financial support to the farmers’ agitation, and vigorously defending legal cases involving Chinese telecom companies like Xiaomi and Vivo.

The day after extensive searches at more than 50 locations linked to the news portal, its staff, and contributors, Purkayastha and Chakraborty were arrested.

The searches, conducted across the National Capital Region and Mumbai, led to the questioning of 46 “suspects” and the seizure of their “digital devices.” Additionally, the police sealed the news portal’s office in Delhi.

In their remand application, the Special Cell cited “secret inputs” indicating the illegal infusion of foreign funds amounting to crores in India by both Indian and foreign entities hostile to the country.

This infusion was allegedly part of a conspiracy to disrupt India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, sow disaffection against the nation, and pose threats to its unity, integrity, and security.

The remand application also mentioned that an analysis of 4.27 lakh emails revealed that the accused were “in direct communication” and were discussing plans to redraw the map of India without Kashmir and to label Arunachal Pradesh as a disputed area. They allegedly received “over Rs 115 crore” under the guise of foreign funds to facilitate this.

Both Purkayastha and Chakraborty have been in judicial custody since November. However, Chakraborty has now turned in the approval for the case.

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