Wednesday saw the Supreme Court issue an immediate release order for Prabir Purkayastha, the founder of NewsClick, who had been arrested in connection with a UAPA case. The apex court deemed Purkayastha’s arrest and subsequent remand invalid, with Justices BR Gavi and Sandeep Mehta finding that the trial court decided on his custody application without providing him or his counsel with the remand application and grounds of arrest. However, given that the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the case, the Supreme Court directed Purkayastha’s release on bail, subject to conditions to be determined by the trial court.
On October 3 last year, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police detained Prabir Purkayastha, along with HR head Amit Chakravarty, on charges of allegedly receiving funds from China to destabilize India’s sovereignty and incite disaffection against the country. The FIR disclosed that a significant portion of the funds for NewsClick originated from China. The police alleged that Purkayastha colluded with the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism to disrupt the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Raids were conducted at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states on October 3, targeting individuals named in the FIR and those identified through data analysis. Around 300 electronic devices were seized from NewsClick’s offices and the residences of the journalists under scrutiny. Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, an autonomous body reviews evidence collected by investigative agencies and recommends prosecution to the competent authority (central or state government), which decides whether to grant sanction.
The arrests followed an investigation by The New York Times, alleging NewsClick’s involvement in a global network that received funds to propagate Chinese propaganda. The report implicated Shanghai-based businessman Neville Roy Singham in financing NewsClick and other outlets worldwide to disseminate Chinese government narratives.
Subsequently, Amit Chakravorty became an approver in the case and has been designated a “witness” in the charge sheet. On May 6, the Delhi High Court ordered Chakravorty’s release.
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