A Delhi court on Tuesday allowed NewsClick's human resources department chief Amit Chakravarty to turn an approver in the case lodged against the news portal. The NewsClick faces charges under the anti-terror law UAPA for allegedly receiving money to spread pro-China propaganda. Special Judge Hardeep Kaur of Patiala House court pardoned Chakravarty, who was arrested in the case, news agency PTI reported.
Chakravarty had sought the court's permission to turn an approver in the case. Chakravarty had moved the plea before Special Judge Hardeep Kaur, seeking pardon in the anti-terror case. He claimed he had material information that he was willing to disclose to the Delhi Police, which is investigating the matter.
With Chakravarty turning approver, trouble has mounted for NewsClick's Editor-in-Chief and founder Prabir Purkayastha.
According to the PTI report, Chakravarty has claimed that he was in possession of material information about the case which he was willing to disclose to the Delhi Police. On October 3, the Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty. Both of them are still in judicial custody.
Reportedly, the FIR against the the organisation 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. Purkayastha has also been accused of conspiring with a group -- People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) -- to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
In October 3 raids that were conducted across 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states, around 300 electronic gadgets were also seized from the offices of NewsClick and the residences of the journalists who were examined. In November the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued fresh summons to American millionaire Neville Roy Singham for questioning in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to NewsClick.