On Tuesday, after a day-long search operation involving seizures and detentions. Read everything here in the Newsclick founder Prabir Purkayastha biography. He was arrested by Delhi Police recently with editor-in-chief, along with HR head Amit Chakravarty. They were detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on allegations that NewsClick had received funds for promoting pro-China propaganda. The police also conducted raids at the residences of several journalists associated with NewsClick, confiscating electronic devices such as laptops, mobile phones, and hard disks as potential evidence.
Why Prabir Purkayastha NewsClick Founder Arrested? Case Update Available Here!
According to police officials, a total of 46 suspects were questioned at different locations regarding this case, which includes charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code. They stated that 37 male suspects were questioned at their premises, while 9 female suspects were questioned at their respective places of stay. Digital devices and documents were seized for further examination.
Reports suggest that the journalists were asked 25 questions on various topics, including details of foreign travels, protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and the farmer’s agitation.
Prior to these developments, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had conducted raids at different locations linked to NewsClick to trace the sources of its funding. The special cell of the Delhi Police initiated these searches based on information provided by the central probe agency.
NewsClick came under scrutiny following a report by The New York Times, which alleged that the firm received money from US billionaire Neville Roy Singham, known for supporting campaigns in favor of China and its propaganda. Singham also has close ties with the Chinese government’s media apparatus.
The Editors Guild of India expressed “deep concerns” about the incident, while Union minister Anurag Thakur defended the raids, suggesting there must have been evidence or complaints related to the case.
Prabir Purkayastha Biography, Educational Qualification
Prabir Purkayastha, born in 1950, hails from Delhi, India, he is 73 years old in the year 2023. He pursued his academic journey at the Motilal College of Engineering, where he successfully earned a master’s degree. Later, he furthered his education at the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology, where he dedicated his efforts to his master’s thesis. Additionally, Prabir enriched his academic pursuits by attending the School of Language at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
During his time at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Prabir Purkayastha actively engaged in student politics. His commitment to his convictions led to an incident during the Emergency in 1975 when he was apprehended by the police while attempting to dissuade students from attending classes. This arrest, however, turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, as the authorities were actually searching for someone named Devi Prasad Tripathi. In his college years, Prabir was known for his contributions to social discourse, channeling his thoughts and opinions through his written articles that tackled a variety of pertinent social issues.