NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and its HR head Amit Chakravarty on Monday approached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court declined to intervene in their arrest and subsequent police custody in a case filed under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra acknowledged the urgency of the matter, following the submissions of senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing Purkayastha and Chakravarty. The CJI said he would take a call on the listing.
Earlier, on 13 October, the Delhi High Court rejected a plea challenging the arrest and ensuing police custody of Purkayastha and Chakravarty. Both were apprehended by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell on 3 October. Subsequently, the two moved the High Court to challenge their arrest and seven-day police custody, seeking immediate release as interim relief.
On 10 October, the trial court ordered their detention in judicial custody for 10 days. The case against them is filed under the anti-terror law, UAPA, on allegations of receiving funds to disseminate pro-China propaganda. The FIR alleges that a “substantial amount” of funds from China was channelled to the news portal with the intention of “disrupting the sovereignty of India” and fomenting disaffection against the country. It further contends that Purkayastha conspired with a group, the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS), to undermine the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.