NEW DELHI, Oct 10: A Delhi court Tuesday sent to 10-day judicial custody NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty, arrested in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA over allegations that the news portal received money to spread pro-China propaganda.
The two were produced before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur around 2:50 PM.
The prosecution sought 10 days judicial custody for the duo, which was firmly opposed by Purkayastha’s counsel, who asserted “prima facie” no case was made out against his client.
“What terrorist act have I committed? How can I as a journalist commit such an act? What is the allegation in the FIR? That we have done critical reporting of(government’s) Covid policy and farmers protest. Is that terrorism?” the lawyer said.
The counsel said if there was even an iota of doubt about their guilt, sending them to judicial custody will be a “travesty of justice”.
The counsel for Chakravarty argued he was not a journalist nor had he received any payment.
“There is no such allegation that there is a map of India, published by newsclick, that shows India without Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.
Countering the arguments, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Atul Shrivastava said the case was at a stage when evidence was still being collected, and the prosecution has sought judicial custody for the accused in all “fairness”.
The Special Cell of Delhi Police had arrested the two on October 3. Police also sealed NewsClick’s office in Delhi. (PTI)
