The Supreme Court decided to postpone the medical bail plea of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha. The bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, has adjourned the medical bail plea of Prabir Purkayastha until April 22.
![[BREAKING] SC Adjourns NewsClick Founder Prabir Purkayastha's Medical Bail Plea Until April 22](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Prabir-Newsclick.jpg?resize=750%2C500&ssl=1)
NEW DELHI: Today (15 April): The Supreme Court postponed the medical bail plea of Prabir Purkayastha, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of NewsClick, who is currently held in Tihar jail under anti-terror laws. The plea has been adjourned to April 22, as senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Purkayastha, was unavailable.
READ ALSO: Delhi Police Files Chargesheet Against NewsClick for Alleged “Pro-China Propaganda”
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, has adjourned the medical bail plea of Prabir Purkayastha until April 22.
The court previously instructed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to establish a medical board to assess Purkayastha’s health condition, taking into account jail records and his complete medical history.
Background:
Prabir Purkayastha was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on allegations of receiving Chinese funding to promote anti-national propaganda. He had challenged his arrest in the Supreme Court, disputing the Delhi High Court’s decision to uphold the trial court’s order of remanding him to police custody. Purkayastha sought bail on medical grounds and questioned the accuracy of the prison authorities’ report on his health condition.
READ ALSO: NewsClick Founder’s UAPA Arrest Challenge Denied by Delhi High Court
Purkayastha’s arrest is based on allegations of receiving funds from China to propagate anti-national sentiments through NewsClick. Along with Purkayastha, Amit Chakravarty, the head of NewsClick’s human resources department, was also arrested. Chakravarty subsequently withdrew his petition against the arrest and was granted permission by a Delhi court to turn approver in the case.
The Delhi High Court earlier rejected the pleas of Purkayastha and Chakravarty, stating that serious offenses affecting national security had been alleged against them, thus declining to grant any favorable orders.
The High Court dismissed their requests, stating that
Due to the serious allegations of offenses impacting stability, integrity, sovereignty, and national security against the petitioner, it is not inclined to grant any favorable orders.
READ ALSO: Supreme Court Directs AIIMS to Establish Board for Health Evaluation of NewsClick Founder
The FIR against NewsClick mentioned substantial funding from China with the intention of destabilizing India’s sovereignty and influencing the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in collaboration with the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS).
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