SC orders release of NewsClick founder, says arrest invalid
THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK New Delhi, May 15: The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the arrest and remand of Prabir…
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THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, May 15: The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the arrest and remand of Prabir Purkayastha, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of NewsClick, by Delhi police in connection with a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was invalid.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta directed the release of the founder of NewsClick involved in the case.
With the condition that he provide a surety and bail bond, the Supreme Court granted Purkayastha’s release.
In its decision, the bench noted that Purkayastha was not given a copy of the remand application and the grounds for arrest, which went against natural justice principles.
The Supreme Court declared the verdict, saying, “A copy of the remand application was not provided to the appellant. This vitiates the arrest of the appellant… Though we would have released him without surety, since the chargesheet has been filed, we release him with surety and a bail bond.”
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What is the case?
Prabir Purkayastha, the editor-in-chief of NewsClick, and the human resources head, Amit Chakravarty, were apprehended by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell in October, 2023. These arrests came in the aftermath of synchronized raids conducted at around 100 locations nationwide.
Since October 2, 2023, Purkayastha has been under custody. He has been held in Tihar jail under anti-terrorism law.
In a case brought under the anti-terror law UAPA, the two were arrested on charges that the news portal NewsClick had received large sums of money for spreading propaganda favouring China.
The news portal allegedly received significant funding from China in order to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and incite discontent with the nation, according to the FIR.
The allegation further stated that Purkayastha was involved in a conspiracy with the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) to disrupt the electoral proceedings during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
