A Delhi court on Thursday directed the Delhi Police to provide the news portal NewsClick a copy of the FIR under which its founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakraborty were arrested two days ago.

The police had opposed Purkayastha’s demand for a copy of the FIR.

During the proceedings, the counsel for Chakravarty also sought in writing the grounds for his arrest, asserting that it was a constitutional safeguard for the accused.

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The advocate cited some judgments of the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court to claim that though the offences alleged against his client under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were “serious”, there were no statutory grounds for the prosecution to deny him a copy of the FIR.

Purkayastha and Chakraborty were arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on Wednesday which had registered an FIR in August under sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code over allegations that the news portal received money to spread pro-China propaganda.

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The Special Cell also questioned 46 people, including journalists who were associated with the portal in the past, asking them if they had covered the anti-CAA protests, Delhi riots and the farm protests. Their digital devices were also seized.

Among those questioned by the Special Cell were journalists Abhisar Sharma, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Aunindyo Chakravarty, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Satyam Tiwari, Subodh Verma, cartoonist Irfan, historian Sohail Hashmi and satirist Sanjay Rajoura.

Also Read: NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, HR head sent to 7-day police custody

On Thursday once again, 10 journalists were questioned for a second time in connection with the UAPA case. Police called the journalists to the Special Cell’s office in Lodhi Colony to join the investigation around noon and questioned them for 5-7 hours.

The Delhi Police have also sealed NewsClick’s office in the national capital.