{"id":2285,"date":"2024-05-15T14:42:03","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T09:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/?p=2285"},"modified":"2026-02-26T00:42:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:12:34","slug":"supreme-court-declares-newsclick-founder-prabir-purkayasthas-arrest-invalid-orders-immediate-release1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/supreme-court-declares-newsclick-founder-prabir-purkayasthas-arrest-invalid-orders-immediate-release1\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court Declares NewsClick Founder Prabir Purkayastha\u2019s Arrest Invalid, Orders Immediate Release"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Delhi, May 15, 2024<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has declared the arrest of\u00a0NewsClick<\/strong>\u00a0founder and editor,\u00a0Prabir Purkayastha<\/strong>, \u201cinvalid\u201d and ordered his immediate release from custody.<\/p>\n

A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta said that a copy of the remand application was not provided to the appellant before passing the remand order on October 4, 2023. Therefore, the arrest and the remand are vitiated.<\/p>\n

\"Supreme<\/a>
Supreme Court Declares NewsClick Founder Prabir Purkayastha\u2019s Arrest Invalid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The arguments in the case were concluded on April 30. It may be recalled that Purkayastha has been in custody since October 2 last year under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.<\/p>\n

The apex court, while directing the release of Purkayastha forthwith, said that the prosecution has failed to provide a copy of the remand application showing the grounds of arrest in writing to the accused-appellant or his counsel before the passing of the remand order on October 4, 2023, which vitiates the arrest and the subsequent remand of the appellant.<\/p>\n

As a result, the appellant is entitled to a direction for release from custody.<\/p>\n

Citing a judgment passed in the case of Pankaj Bansal, the top court said: \u201cThis Court therefore orders the release of Prabir Purkayasatha.”<\/p>\n

However, it directed that the release would be subject to furnishing the bail bonds to the satisfaction of the trial court.<\/p>\n

Purkayasatha had filed the petition, assailing a decision of the Delhi High Court upholding his arrest by the Delhi Police.<\/p>\n

The co-accused and NewsClick human resources head Amit Chakraborty had also approached the top court challenging his arrest, but he was allowed to withdraw his plea after he turned approver for the Enforcement Directorate and was granted a pardon.<\/p>\n

After the order was passed by the court Wednesday, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju asked the court: \u201c We need to have one clarification, since arrest has been declared void, it may not preclude us from exercising our correct powers to arrest.”<\/p>\n

To this Justice Gavai said, \u201cWe are not saying anything on that. Whatever you are permitted to do under law, you are permitted.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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A good day for independent media!#PrabirPurkayastha<\/a> #NewsClick<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/e3h5AoMtDP<\/a><\/p>\n

— NewsClick (@newsclickin) May 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n