NewsClick row updates: Delhi Police opposes plea for copy of FIR

The Delhi Police on Thursday opposed the applications filed for the supply of a copy of the FIR by NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and human resources department head Amit Chakravarty, arrested in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA following allegations that the news portal had received money to spread pro-China propaganda. Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur was hearing the arguments regarding the applications.

Special Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava cited a Supreme Court judgment and said the accused had to approach the police commissioner, who would then form a committee regarding the same.

He said the accused had to follow the "step-by-step procedure" prescribed by the apex court. The application filed by the accused was "premature" and they could not "directly jump before the court", Shrivastava added.


The court had issued a notice to the city police on the applications on Wednesday.

Purkayastha and Chakravarty were arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Tuesday. Police have sealed NewsClick's office in Delhi.

On Wednesday, journalists from different media organisations protested against the Delhi Police crackdown on NewsClick and arrest of Purkayastha and Chakravarty. A protest was organised in front of the Press Club of India (PCI), where journalists were seen holding banners.

The protesting journalists said they are getting support from different media organisations and press clubs across the country.

The National Union of Journalists (India), however, backed the police action and submitted a letter to Commissioner of Police (CP) Sanjay Arora.

It said, "A section of the media and some political parties are trying to create an atmosphere of fear by terming it an attack on the media regarding the issue of Chinese funding."

The NUJ (I) said it believes that some news portals running through foreign fundings and are becoming factories of fake news.

"Delhi Police should not misbehave with any journalist during interrogation," the letter read.

Journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, who was questioned by police on Tuesday, shared his experience about the questioning and behaviour of the police.

"The entire staff of Delhi's Special Cell asked me a set of many questions. However, their behaviour was very decent. They asked me for tea and ordered lunch for me as well. As two -- Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty -- have been arrested, I feel the police also behave in a decent way with them," Thakurta said.

Police force was deployed outside of the Press Club to maintain law and order condition.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday had arrested NewsClick founder Purkayastha and HR head Chakravarty after searching more than 50 locations in different states and questioning several journalists in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations the portal received money for pro-China propaganda.

Police had sealed NewsClick's office in Delhi and digital devices, including laptops and mobile phones, and documents were taken away for examination.

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the police said had said 37 male suspects were questioned at the office of Delhi Police Special Cell, while nine female suspects were quizzed at their respective places of stay.