NewsClick case: Founder, HR head move Supreme Court against Delhi HC order on arrest in UAPA case

The Delhi High Court had dismissed their pleas challenging their arrest and the subsequent police remand order in the anti-terror law case lodged against them.

NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha being brought to the Patiala House Court by Delhi Police's Special Cell in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (PTI Photo)

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NewsClick founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources head Amit Chakraborty Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s verdict dismissing his plea against arrest by Delhi police in a case lodged under anti-terror law the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for the accused, and said that the matter needed urgent hearing and asked him to circulate the case papers.

“This is the NewsClick matter. The journalists are in police custody. Here one of the accused is a 75-year old man,” Sibal said quoted PTI.

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The CJI has said that he will take a call on the listing.

The High Court had rejected their contention they should have been provided the grounds of arrest when apprehended by police and said the UAPA does not mandate furnishing written grounds and only speaks of the accused being “informed” about the reasons for arrest, but added that it would be “advisable” that the police henceforth provide the grounds of arrest in writing to an accused after redacting “sensitive material”.

The duo was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell earlier this month, which had registered an FIR in August under sections of the UAPA and the IPC.

Among allegations detailed by the Special Cell in its FIR against Purkayastha are attempts to show Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as “not parts of India”; discrediting the Indian government’s fight against Covid; funding the farmers’ agitation; and “putting up a spirited defence of legal cases” against Chinese telecom companies such as Xiaomi and Vivo.

With agency inputs

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