The Supreme Court, while reviewing the appeals of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty against their detention under the anti-terror UAPA law, has called for a response from the Delhi Police.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Devadatt Kamat, representing Purkayastha and Chakravarty, respectively, urged for an expedited hearing due to their clients’ incarceration. Justices BR Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra, presiding over the bench, have issued notice to the Delhi Police, seeking a reply by October 30.
This matter was prioritized by the Apex Court on October 16 following Sibal’s presentation to the bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud.
On October 3, Purkayastha and Chakravarty were apprehended by the Delhi Police, who also confiscated laptops and mobile phones. There are ongoing investigations into allegations that NewsClick received illicit funds from China, a claim vehemently denied by the organization. Critics argue that these actions represent a deliberate assault on press freedom.
The synchronized raids conducted at 30 locations on October 3 mark one of the most significant and far-reaching operations on India’s media landscape in recent times. Subsequently, the police confirmed the arrests of Purkayastha and Chakravarty.
