‘Undeclared Emergency’: Congress on arrests, grilling of NewsClick journos

The Congress on Tuesday slammed the Centre after the arrest of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, alleging that the Narendra Modi government has imposed an “undeclared Emergency” since 2014, which has been getting “worse as it fears a loss in the 2024 elections”.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday (October 3) arrested NewsClick founder Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty after searching more than 30 locations and questioning 46 suspects, including nine women, in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations the portal received money for pro-China propaganda.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote, “Gyan Prakash, the eminent historian at Princeton, has written a deeply researched account of the 1975-77 period called Emergency Chronicles. One such hero of the resistance that Dr Prakash describes in great detail is Prabir Purkayastha who later became an expert on energy policy.”

Ramesh added, “Today, the very same Prabir Purkayastha along with many others stands arrested by the Modi regime, which has imposed an undeclared Emergency since 2014, that has been getting worse as it fears a loss in the 2024 elections.”

In another post, Ramesh alleged that journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta is “now facing the vengeance of the Modani regime for his relentless investigations on the PM’s favourite business group” but the exposés will continue.

46 with NewsClick connection grilled

Police sealed NewsClick’s office in Delhi, officials said, confirming that 46 suspects were questioned and digital devices, including laptops and mobile phones, and documents were taken away for examination. They said 37 male suspects were questioned at the office of the Delhi Police Special Cell, while nine female suspects were quizzed at their respective places of stay.

Purkayastha and Chakravarty have been arrested, Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalwa said.

Police had prepared a list of 25 questions on various issues, including northeast Delhi riots, details of foreign travels, and farmers’ agitation.

Paranjoy Guha Thakurta said nine policemen came to his house in Gurugram at 6.30 am and asked him various questions. “I came with them voluntarily to the office of Delhi Police’s Special Cell at Lodhi Road. The same set of questions were asked again that am I an employee of NewsClick. I said no, I am a consultant. They asked me about my salary.

“They also asked me that have I covered the Delhi riots. I said no. Then on covering the farmers’ agitation, I said yes. They asked me how long I have been consultant with them. I said since May 2018. After I came here, I learnt that an FIR has been lodged apparently under the UAPA... I have been here since around 8.30 am and I am leaving now around 6 pm,” Thakurta told media persons.

He further stated that police asked him whether he had called one S Bhatnagar in the US; he said yes, he is his brother-in-law. Police also asked him whether he uses Signal application, he said yes.

“Nothing to fear”

Among the others questioned were journalists Urmilesh, Aunindyo Chakravarty, Abhisar Sharma, Thakurta, as well as historian Sohail Hashmi and D Raghunandan of the Centre for Technology & Development.

“After a day-long interrogation by Delhi Police’s special cell, I am back home. Each and every question posed will be answered. Nothing to fear. And I will keep questioning people in power and particularly those who are afraid of simple questions. Not backing down at any cost,” Sharma posted on X.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury’s official residence in Pt Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane was one of the sites raided by police to question his staffer Sri Narayan’s son Sumit, who works with NewsClick.

“They came without any information or notice. Initially they said they had come to inquire about some bank loan. Finally, when they came inside, they said it was in connection with NewsClick,” Yechury said.

“They sat for around two hours, asked some questions. When they could not find anything, they took Sumit’s laptop and phone and said it can be recollected after two days,” he told PTI.

(With agency inputs)