The Supreme Court has ordered the immediate release of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, who was arrested in a UAPA case. The court deemed the arrest and subsequent remand of Purkayastha invalid, citing that the grounds of arrest were not provided to him or his counsel in writing before his custody application was decided by the trial court.
Prabir Purkayastha was arrested on October 3, 2023, in connection with allegations of taking money from China to disrupt India’s sovereignty and cause disaffection against the country. Along with Purkayastha, HR head Amit Chakravarty was also arrested on similar charges.
Despite a charge sheet being filed by the Delhi Police in the case, the Supreme Court directed Purkayastha’s release on bail, with conditions to be determined by the trial court.
The arrests came after raids conducted at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states, where around 300 electronic gadgets were seized from NewsClick offices and journalists’ residences. The allegations surfaced following an investigation published in The New York Times, which claimed that NewsClick received funds from China to propagate Chinese propaganda.
Amit Chakravorty, who later turned approver in the case, has been named as a witness in the charge sheet. The Delhi High Court previously ordered Chakravorty’s release on May 6.
The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the importance of adhering to legal procedures and ensuring transparency in arrests under stringent laws like UAPA.
