Today, 6th May, The Delhi High Court ruled for the release of Amit Chakraborty, the HR Head of News Click, in a case involving the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This decision follows ongoing legal proceedings surrounding his involvement. Chakraborty’s release signifies a significant development in the case’s legal trajectory. The ruling reflects the complexities and controversies surrounding UAPA-related cases in India.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court, On Monday, mandated the release of Amit Chakraborty, the Human Resources (HR) head of the news portal NewsClick. This decision came in response to a case lodged against the platform under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The order issued by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma following a petition filed by Chakraborty, who had become an approver in the case. Chakraborty, along with NewsClick’s Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha, detained on October 3 the previous year after a series of police raids.
Read Also: [ Breaking] NewsClick UAPA Case, Delhi HC Reserves Order on HR Head’s Bail Plea
In January 2024, Chakraborty became an approver in a criminal case filed against a news platform following allegations, as reported by The New York Times, suggesting that the platform received payment for promoting Chinese propaganda.
According to the police, the suspect has been accused of unlawfully acquiring large sums of money in foreign currency and using it with the purpose of undermining the sovereignty, unity, and security of India.
The funds were purportedly illicitly injected into the country by Neville Roy Singham, who claimed to have ties to the propaganda department of the Communist Party of China. This allegedly accomplished through a complex network of interconnected organizations, as stated by the investigating agency.
A Delhi court recently took cognizance of the chargesheet filed against NewsClick and Purkayastha.
NewsClick refuted the allegations outlined in the chargesheet.
In a statement released on May 01, NewsClick emphasized that the investigations by Delhi Police and other agencies aim to target their independent journalism. They highlighted that their coverage of protests and criticisms of government policies is being misrepresented as anti-India. NewsClick further stated that all allegations against them fabricated and without merit.
On October 13, 2023, the High Court dismissed the petitions filed by Purkayastha and Chakraborty, which challenged their arrest and subsequent remand. The two individuals subsequently escalated their legal battle to the Supreme Court, seeking further redress.
Read Also: NewsClick Founder’s UAPA Arrest Challenge Denied by Delhi High Court
In an interesting turn of events, Chakraborty chose to withdraw his plea in January of this year after deciding to become an approver, or state witness, in the case. This strategic move potentially indicated a shift in his legal strategy. On the other hand, the petition challenging Purkayastha‘s arrest remains unresolved, with the Supreme Court currently reserving its judgment on the matter. The developments in this case highlight the complexities of the legal process and the differing strategies of the involved parties.
The backdrop of this legal situation includes a series of raids conducted last year, based on allegations that NewsClick received funds from China to compromise Indian sovereignty and disseminate anti-India propaganda. The outcome of this case being closely observed for its potential impact on press freedom and the application of anti-terror laws in India.