SC declares NewsClick founder’s arrest by the Delhi Police under the anti-terror law as illegal
The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the arrest and remand of Prabir Purkayastha, the chief editor of the online news portal NewsClick. A Bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta ordered that Purkayastha be released subject to him furnishing surety and bail bond. The apex court passed the order after noting that a copy of the remand application was not provided to Purkayastha, a clear violation of the principles of natural justice.
“A copy of the remand application was not provided to the appellant. This vitiates the arrest of the appellant following the Pankaj Bansal case,” the order said. The Court further said that since a chargesheet has been filed in the case, Purkayustha can be released only on furnishing surety and bail bond. Otherwise, he could have been released without surety, the Court stated.
“Though we would have released him without surety, but since chargesheet has been filed, we release him with surety and bail bond,” the Court stated reading out the operative part of the order. The verdict came on the plea by Prabir Purkayastha challenging his arrest and remand by the Delhi Police in the case, filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). [Prabir Purkayastha v. State of NCT of Delhi].
The Court had orally observed then that the remand order was clearly passed (around 6 AM) before Purkayastha or his counsel were informed as to why he was arrested. The Court had also grilled the counsel for the Delhi Police as to why no advance notice was given to Purkayastha’s lawyer about his remand.
NewsClick website, a pro-Communist portal was charged for accepting more than Rs.115 crore for publishing Chinese propaganda, routed through Neville Roy Singham, a US Citizen, now living in China. Meanwhile, Amit Chakraborty, HR head of NewsClick turned as Approver. According to Prabir Purkayastha, the funding was from US companies linked to Neville Roy Singham and came through proper FDI channels.[1]
Reference:
[1] Supreme Court issues notices to Delhi Police on pleas of NewsClick founder, HR head in UAPA case – Oct 19, 2024, PGurus.com
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Demolish all jails….convert it into schools or hospitals….. govt should stop going to courts or straightway give support to Police to deliver justice through other methods….. People also should boycott courts
Do not see any wisdom with SC or HC or any court of India…..
Remove Summer vacation privileges of courts………they also need to work like any other 6 days a week.