After conducting a day-long search, seizures and detentions, Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakraborty, a shareholder in the firm under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
“It’s written nowhere that probe agencies can’t take action if money has come to you from wrong sources or something objectionable has been done," said Information Minister Anurag Thakur.
The Delhi Police's special cell conducted a covert investigation for 45 days (six weeks) before launching the raids.
Shabnam Hashmi, whose brother the oral historian and social activist Sohail Hashmi was among those raided, said in a social media post: “In the name of legal proceedings, what the common people face today is sheer intimidation, harassment and fear by the Indian state.
In the controversy, the name of American millionaire Neville Roy Singham also emerged in the NYT's report, which claimed that NewsClick was part of a global network that received funding from Singham, to allegedly spread Chinese propaganda in India.
"In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham's network financed a news site, NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points. 'China's history continues to inspire the working classes,' one video said," The New York Times report noted.
A total of 46 people were questioned in relation to the case, according to Delhi Police.
After conducting a day-long search, seizures and detentions, Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested NewsClick founder and its editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty, firm's human resources head, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The founder of the portal was earlier brought to the Delhi Police special cell office for questioning in connection with the case under the anti-terror law following the allegations that the portal received funds for pro-China propaganda, reports 'The Hindustan Times'.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Police personnel carried out raids in houses of several journalists associated with the news portal and seized a number of their electronic devices as evidence including laptops, mobile phones and hard disks.
The case under UAPA and different sections of the Indian Penal Code were filed on August 17.
"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/collected for examination," Delhi Police said.
According to reports, a list of 25 questions on various issues which included details of foreign travels, protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and farmer's agitation were posed at the journalists.
CPI MP Binoy Viswam said in a statement that the common thread between the persons who were raided is well-known for their critical approach towards the wrongdoings of the Modi government, instead of compliance as desired by the BJP.
These journalists and activists have questioned the Modi regime on several critical issues, like the mishandling of the Manipur crisis, the Adani-Hindenburg revelations, the spread of fake news, the communalisation of society and media, Pegasus snooping issue, corruption in the Rafael Deal, etc, he said.
Hours before the Delhi Police conducted raids on the premises of online portal NewsClick and several journalists associated with the organisation, the first meeting by the officials of the special cell was held on Monday mid-night. The meeting was attended by more than 200 police personnel at 2am at the special cell office in Lodhi Colony, news agency ANI reported.
Apart from senior officials, the mobile handsets of junior officials were kept at the station, to hide any leaked information, the report claimed. The Delhi Police special cell carried out raids at more than 30 locations, the report said, adding that suspects were marked in the A, B, and C categories.
On Delhi Police action against 'NewsClick', Union minister Anurag Thakur in Odisha's Bhubaneshwar, "The investigation agencies are doing their work. If the agency has taken action, then it must have been based on evidence or complaint."
"Police came to my residence because one of my companions who lives with me there, his son, works for NewsClick. The police came to question him. They took his laptop and phone. What are they investigating? Nobody knows. If this is an attempt to try and muzzle the media, the country must know the reason behind this," CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said.
Apar Gupta, who heads the Internet Freedom Foundation in India, said “seizure of a journalists phone and digital devices is a wider trend that requires reform and safeguards”.
No comments:
Post a Comment