Delhi High Court grants anticipatory bail to NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha in money laundering and foreign funding cases. Court also extends relief to director Pranjal Pandey; detailed order awaited.
The Supreme Court granted NewsClick a one-week protection from any coercive action over a tax demand. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, however, rejected a writ petition filed by PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd. The petition was filed directly under Article 32 of the Constitution. The court’s decision provides temporary relief but does not settle the tax dispute.
The Supreme Court granted interim relief to NewsClick in two income tax dispute cases, after the portal had already deposited 30 percent of the assessed amount with the tax department. The court questioned the freezing of NewsClick’s account and stayed any further recovery of the disputed tax amount. This comes after a series of legal battles and rejected pleas.
Former Supreme Court Judge Madan Lokur emphasized the constitutional right to silence for arrested individuals during a discussion on freedom of expression. He highlighted the interconnectedness of fundamental rights and warned about suppressing freedom of speech. Parallelly, Prabir Purkayastha reflected on his experiences and emphasized democratic resilience and support for those imprisoned.
Today(on 15th May), The Supreme Court overturned the UAPA-related arrest of NewsClick’s Prabir Purkayastha, ordering his release on bail with surety due to violations of natural justice during the remand process. The Court also questioned the manner in which the remand hearing was conducted and raised concerns about the lack of advance notice to Purkayastha’s lawyer.
![[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=447%2C367&ssl=1)
Today (15th April): The Supreme Court has postponed NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha’s medical bail plea until April 22. Purkayastha is held in Tihar jail under anti-terror laws. The court instructed AIIMS to assess his health condition. He was arrested on allegations of receiving Chinese funding for anti-national propaganda. Delhi High Court previously denied his UAPA arrest challenge.
Today (30th March): The Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against NewsClick under UAPA for propagating pro-China content. The chargesheet accuses the organization of spreading propaganda favorable to China’s interests and engaging in the dissemination of pro-China narratives for financial gain. The case also involves the arrest of NewsClick’s founder and HR head.
Today(on 20th March), The Patiala House Court in Delhi has extended the NewsClick case investigation by 10 days over allegations of pro-China propaganda and illegal foreign funding. This marks the third extension granted by Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur. The accused individuals’ judicial custody has also been prolonged, with significant amounts of foreign funds alleged to have been illegally injected into India.