NewsClick Row: SC Seeks Delhi Police Response on Purkayastha and Chakravarty’s Pleas Challenging Arrest

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought response from the Delhi Police on pleas of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and its HR head, Amit Chakravarty. They have been arrested under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra issued notices to the Delhi Police and sought their response by October 30. The decision was taken after senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Devadatt Kamat, representing Purkayastha and Chakravarty, informed the court that both individuals are currently in custody, and they requested an early hearing.

On October 16, the Supreme Court agreed to urgently list the matter after Kapil Sibal brought it to the attention of the bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. The Chief Justice asked Sibal to circulate the case papers and mentioned that he would decide on the matter’s urgent listing.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the pleas filed by Purkayastha and Chakravarty against their arrest and subsequent police remand in the case. Both individuals were arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on October 3.

Following their arrests, they moved the high court, challenging their arrest and the seven-day police custody. They also sought immediate release as interim relief. However, the high court declined to grant them relief, stating that there were no procedural irregularities or violations of the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in their arrests.

The trial court subsequently sent them to judicial custody for 10 days.

The Delhi Police has filed cases against both individuals under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), on charges of allegedly receiving funds to promote pro-China propaganda. The FIR alleges that a significant amount of funding came from China to the news portal with the intention of disrupting India’s sovereignty and inciting disaffection against the country. It also accuses Purkayastha of conspiring with a group, the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS), to disrupt the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.