Newsclick HR department head Amit Chakraborty, accused in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has filed a petition in Patiala House Court for bail. The news portal alleges that they had received money for spreading pro-China propaganda.

At the same time, Newsclick founder Prabir Purkayastha has also filed an application to return his electronic devices seized by the police in the case. Special Judge Hardeep Kaur on Friday asked Delhi Police to file its reply by November 4 on Chakraborty's bail plea.

At the same time, time was given till October 31 to respond to Purkayastha's application. The Special Cell of Delhi Police had filed an FIR against Purkayastha and Chakraborty under UAPA and arrested them on October 3.

Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakraborty have challenged their arrest and detention under UAPA over alleged Chinese funding to promote 'anti-national' propaganda. In the court, his lawyer Kapil Sibal said that the 75-year-old journalist has been arrested without notice, which is not right. Kapil Sibal further said that the High Court did not give us relief and we request the Supreme Court for an early hearing.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police had accused the founder of NewsClick that while creating stories at the global and domestic level, he was describing Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as disputed areas. Besides, he is also accused of attacking unity and territorial integrity by tampering with the map of India.

Police also said that Prabir Purkayastha, editor of news website Newsclick, and his associates Joseph Raj, Anup Chakraborty (brother of Amit Chakraborty), Bappaditya Sinha (promoter of Virtunet Systems Pvt Ltd) used to raise money through illegal means.

It was also alleged that this money was divided among Teesta Setalvad's associates Gautam Navlakha, Javed Anand, Tamara, Jibran, Urmilesh, Aratrika Halder, Paranjay Guha Thakurta, Trina Shankar and journalist Abhisar Sharma.