Prabir Purkayashta, the editor-in-chief of the web portal NewsClick, and Amit Chakravarty, the director of human resources, were detained by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police following coordinated raids at over 100 locations across the nation. Police are looking into claims that the portal spread propaganda from China and received unlawful funds from that country. Some of its employees and consultants are also on the radar.
The raids were conducted in connection with an FIR filed under the stringent UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and sections of IPC. The portal’s office in south Delhi was sealed by the police.
Forty-six people, including journalists and employees linked to the portal, were questioned. “Thirty seven male suspects have been questioned at the premises while nine female suspects have been questioned at their respective places of stay, and digital devices, documents etc have been seized for examination,” a Delhi Police spokesperson said.
The proceedings are still on; so far, two accused, Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty, have been arrested,” the spokesperson added. The two were arrested after several hours of questioning with a cop, alleging that they didn’t cooperate in the investigation and appeared to be giving tutored answers. According to the officer, this made the investigating officer's custodial interrogation necessary. In Delhi, Mumbai, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gurugram, there were numerous raids at various places. The company's offices and the homes of journalists and other online staff members were searched.