In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has supported the detention of NewsClick Editor Prabir Purkayastha and HR Head Gargee Chakraborty following their arrests amidst allegations of promoting Chinese propaganda. This arrest follows an extensive series of raids conducted in the wake of accusations outlined in a New York Times article that suggested NewsClick was involved in disseminating Chinese propaganda.
Arrested on Allegations of Promoting Chinese Propaganda
Prabir Purkayastha and Gargee Chakraborty were taken into custody on October 3, following prolonged questioning. Subsequently, they were remanded to seven days of police custody on the morning of October 4.
Illegal Influx of Foreign Funds
The allegations against the accused revolve around the illegal influx of substantial foreign funds, amounting to crores of rupees. These funds were allegedly received and employed with the intention of disrupting India’s sovereignty, unity, and security.
According to the FIR, the illegal flow of funds into India was orchestrated by a web of both Indian and foreign entities. These operations transpired over a five-year span, during which Newsclick purportedly received these funds through unlawful means.
Notably, the funds were believed to have been covertly injected into India by Neville Roy Singham, who was allegedly an active member of the Communist Party of China’s propaganda department. The transfer of funds was conducted through a complex network of entities, raising concerns about the origins and purposes of these financial transactions.
Legal Challenge and Denial of Allegations
In response to their arrest, Prabir Purkayastha and Gargee Chakraborty moved the Delhi High Court to challenge their detention, remand, and the FIR lodged against them under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The accused contended that their arrest and remand were unlawful, primarily due to the absence of grounds for their arrest, a violation they claimed was in direct contravention of a recent Supreme Court judgment in the M3M case. Furthermore, they vehemently denied the allegations of receiving funds from China, as asserted by the Delhi Police.
Delhi Police Cites National Security Concerns
Responding to the legal challenge, the Delhi Police asserted that the accused individuals posed a significant threat to the nation’s security and integrity. They emphasized that the Supreme Court judgment in the M3M case would not be applicable in this instance as it was delivered on the same day as the arrest, and thus, the police were not aware of it when taking action.
