'Arrest invalid...': SC orders immediate release of NewsClick founder
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the immediate release of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha arrested in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act case. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta said the remand copy was not provided to Purkayastha or his counsel before his custody application was decided by the trial court. "There is no hesitation...that the grounds of arrest were not provided, which vitiates the arrest," Justice Mehta said. The arrest was thus held "void."
Why does this story matter?
The Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested Purkayastha on October 3, 2023, on charges of taking money from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India." The arrests came after an investigation published in The New York Times alleged that the portal was part of a global network that received money for pushing Chinese propaganda. It said that Shanghai-based businessman—Neville Roy Singham—funded NewsClick, among other outlets, to sprinkle its coverage with Chinese government talking points.
Raids and seizures following Purkayastha's arrest
Following Purkayastha's arrest, the Special Cell of Delhi Police also arrested NewsClick's HR head Amit Chakravorty. Chakravorty later turned an approver in the case and has been named as a "witness" in the charge sheet. On May 6, Delhi High Court ordered the release of Chakravorty. To recall, last year, raids were held at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states. Approximately 300 electronic gadgets were seized from NewsClick offices and residences of journalists under investigation.
Trial court to impose bail conditions: SC
As per the FIR filed by the Delhi Police, Purkayastha allegedly conspired with a group—People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) —to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Notably, since a chargesheet has been filed in the case already, the apex court has ordered Purkayastha's immediate release on bail. The trial court stands to impose bail surety conditions, the top court added.
Major relief, says Purkayastha's counsel
Commenting on the apex court's order on Purkayastha's release, his counsel Advocate Arshdeep Khurana told news agency ANI that they have been directed to furnish the bail bond before the trial court. "This is a major and a big relief because we have been maintaining from the beginning that the entire proceedings against him were illegal and the manner of arrest was illegal which has now been upheld by the Supreme Court," Khurana said.
