NewsClick editor-in-chief and senior journalist Prabir Puryakastha who was arrested under draconian UAPA said his organisation will move the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the Delhi Police FIR against them invoking terror charges.
Purkayastha’s counsel said they will seek quashing of FIR and their arrests, Bar and Bench reported.
A day after the arrest of two people, including Purkayastha and NewsClick HR head Amit Chakravarty were sent to seven days of police remand on Wednesday.
Investigative authorities registered a case against the NewsClick website and its journalists on 17 August, weeks after a New York Times report alleged that the NewsClick had received funds from an American millionaire who, the Times wrote, had funded the spread of “Chinese propaganda.”
The city police on Tuesday searched 30 locations connected with NewsClick and its journalists in a case filed under the draconian UAPA and later in the day sealed its office.
Among those questioned were veteran journalists Urmilesh, Aunindyo Chakravarty, Abhisar Sharma, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta as well as historian Sohail Hashmi and D Raghunandan of the Centre for Technology & Development.
“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.” Delhi Police informed on Tuesday.
“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 or collected for examination”, Delhi Police added.
