Delhi HC seeks police reply over NewsClick founder’s plea against UAPA case

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Delhi Police over NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha’s plea challenging the Delhi police FIR against him under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Bar and Bench reported.

Appearing for the Delhi police, advocate Zoheb Hossain opposed the notice. The lawyer reportedly said that the offences alleged were prima facie made out and one of the accused, former NewsClick HR head Amit Chakraborty, has turned an approver. This was opposed by Purkayastha’s counsel Dayan Krishnan.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma pointed out that the court will have to issue a notice in order to consider the police’s reply. “If I don’t issue notice, how will I look into your reply? How will I even read that… Why should I adopt a different procedure? What difference does it make if I issue notice,” the judge said, according to Bar and Bench.

The court will now hear the matter in July.

Purkayastha’s plea had been listed on four occasions but no notice was issued until today. Purkayastha and Chakraborty’s petitions challenging their arrest and remand were rejected by the high court on October 13, 2023. This order has been challenged before the Supreme Court and that appeal is still pending before the top court.

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