The Delhi Police chargesheet made a revelation regarding Prabir Purkayastha and his company’s alleged conspriacy during the Covid-19 pandemic. (Image: News18/File)
The police, in its chargesheet, alleged that NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha was also involved in mobilsing the CAA-NRC protests, and conspired with businessman Neville Roy Singham to criticise India’s efforts to control Covid-19
Prabir Purkayastha had links with terrorist organisations like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, alleged the Delhi Police special cell in its 8,000-page chargesheet in the NewsClick case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
“…Active association with terrorists, ie, LeT. Also gave financial assistance to them,” the police said.
The Special Cell said funds were given to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is a banned terror organisation under the First Schedule of UA(P) Act, 1967, active in Jammu and Kashmir and responsible for a number of terror-related incidents.
The chargesheet further stated that in the garb of protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens (CAA-NRC), the NewsClick founder was not only involved in a disinformation campaign using PPK NewsClick, but was actually using his employees and partners to disburse cash to rioters. The police said some of these rioters are already behind bars in a separate UAPA case and are presently in judicial custody.
The chargesheet made another revelation with regard to Purkayastha and his company’s alleged conspriacy during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Prabir Purkayastha in furtherance of common conspiracy with businessman Neville Roy Singham and others during the Covid-19 time had criticized noble efforts of the Indian government to control Covid-19 and also published his articles against the vaccine manufactured by the Indian pharmaceutical companies with the intention of causing disaffection against India,” it stated.
The police further alleged that there is witness evidence that activist Gautam Navlakha and Purkayastha gave money to Naxals for violent activities.
Here’s what the chargesheet says with regard to evidence against Purkayastha and NewsClick:
- ‘Active association with terrorists’: NewsClick received Rs 91 crore, which was later used for terrorist activities. PP NewsClick India LLP was converted into a private company so that funds could be given in the guise of investment and service agreement.
- ‘Navlakha, Purkayastha gave money to Naxals’: The police said there is witness-based evidence that Navlakha and Purkayastha gave money to Naxals to carry out violent activities. The probe shows that the two supported Naxals.
- ‘Conspiracy began in 2016’: Police said there is evidence in the form of emails that the conspiracy began in 2016 and, pursuant to its objective, PPK NewsClick was turned into PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd so that funds could be raised with the objective of committing terrorist acts and unlawful activities in India.
- Tinkering with maps: Purkayastha’s NewsClick is charged with tinkering with the map of Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. It allegedly altered the Chinese map so as to include Aksai Chin as part of China and showed India without Kashmir in a news bulletin.
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