NewsClick case: SC terms Purkayastha’s arrest illegal, orders release

The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the arrest of NewsClick editor Prabir Purkayastha, ordering his release in a Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) case linked to running alleged Chinese propaganda.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police had arrested Purkayastha on October 3 last year for allegedly trying to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” by using Chinese funds for his news portal. He is in judicial custody.

“There is no hesitation in the mind of the Court to reach to a conclusion that a copy of the remand application, in the purported exercise of the communication of the grounds of arrest in writing, was not provided to the accused-appellant or his counsel before the passing of the remand order dated 4th October, 2023,