A Delhi Court has been approached by the NewsClick’s human resources department head Amit Chakraborty asking permission to turn a government approver in the anti-terror case registered under UAPA.
NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Chakraborty have been accused of receiving money to spread pro-China propaganda as per reports.
Last week, an application was moved before the Special Judge Hardeep Kaur where Chakraborty sought pardon in the case.
HR head Amit Chakraborty claimed to have information and material, that could come handy to the Delhi Police, which is investigating the matter. He was willing to share this and turn an approver.
Media agencies were informed by the police that the agency will take a decision on whether to support his application before the court after going through his statement.
It is important to note that the judge has posted the matter before a magisterial court for recording the HR head’s statement.
Chakraborty and Purkayastha are in judicial custody at present. On October 3, they were arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police.
The FIR against Chakravarty and Purkayastha states that a large amount of funds to the news portal came from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country.
As per the FIR, Purkayastha has been part of People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
During the investigation, police raided about 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states on the suspects named in the FIR and those that surfaced in the analysis of data.
About 300 electronic gadgets were seized from the offices of NewsClick and the residences of journalists who were examined. The Special Cell of Delhi police then questioned 46 individuals, including nine women journalists.