NewsClick Row: Amit Chakravarty Withdraws Plea From SC Against Arrest Under UAPA

NewsClick’s human resources department head Amit Chakravarty on Monday has withdrew his petition from the Supreme Court against his arrest under the anti-terror law, the UAPA.

Earlier this month, a Delhi court allowed Chakravarty to turn an approver in the case lodged against the news portal under UAPA over allegations that it received money to spread pro-China propaganda.

The separate pleas filed by Chakravarty & NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha against their arrest under the anti-terror law came up for hearing before a bench headed by Justice BR Gavai.

An advocate appearing in the matter requested the bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta, that Chakravarty be allowed to withdraw his plea.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Delhi Police, told the bench, while responding to the lawyer’s prayer, “Let him withdraw if he wants to withdraw.”

The bench allowed Chakravarty to withdraw the plea.

Raju told the bench that the other petition filed by Purkayastha has to be heard.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on January 30.

Earlier, a Delhi court this month pardoned Chakravarty on an application he moved seeking the court’s permission to turn an approver.

Chakravarty claimed he was in possession of “material information” about the case which he was willing to disclose to the Delhi Police.

On October 19 last year, the supreme court sought the response of the Delhi Police on pleas of Purkayastha and Chakravarty challenging the October 13, 2023 order of the Delhi High Court. The high court dismissed their pleas against arrest and subsequent police remand in the case.

On October 3 last year, both were arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police.

They subsequently moved the high court challenging the arrest as well as the 7-days of police custody, and sought immediate release as interim relief.

However, the court, refused to grant them relief, stating that there was no procedural infirmity or violation of the provisions of the UAPA in arresting them.

The city police have booked the 2 under UAPA for allegedly receiving money to spread pro-China propaganda.

According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal allegedly came from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country.

It also alleged that Purkayastha conspired with a group- People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.