DIGIPUB Hails SC Order on NewsClick’s Prabir Purkayastha’s Arrest, Hopes for his Early Release

New Delhi: DIGIPUB, a collective of independent digital news portals and several independent journalists in India (including NewsClick), has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, holding the arrest of NewsClick’s founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha’s arrest by the Delhi Police as illegal and ordering his release immediately.

In a statement issued today, DIGIPUB said: “We are glad that the Supreme Court has finally intervened. We urge the government to exercise caution and restraint in its deliberate and regressive war against independent media houses it doesn’t agree with. We hope Prabir is released immediately and that he is given a fair trial in accordance with the law.”

Purkayastha and the administrative head of the news portal, Amit Chakraborty were arrested in an early morning swoop and raids by the Delhi Police Special Cell on October 3, 2023, in the homes of close to 80 journalists, contributors, freelancers and staff. Chakraborty was released recently after he turned and approver this January.

The raids followed allegations, without evidence, made in an article in the New York Times that the portal was being funded by the Chinese government to ‘spread propaganda”. Purkayastha was booked and arrested under the draconian anti-terror law, UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act).

The DIGIPUB statement noted that Purkayastha, after his arrest, was not provided the copy of the remand application before passing the remand order.

“The Supreme Court said it was surprised at the Delhi Police’s “hot haste” in producing Prabir before a magistrate without even informing his lawyer,” read the statement.

DIGIPUB, whose members include The News Minute, The Wire, Newslaundry, The Quint, Alt News, Article 14, Boomlive, Cobrapost, Scroll, HW News and several independent journalists and members, said they had consistently condemned police and agency action against NewsClick, “where journalists were interrogated, their devices seized and their homes raided…”

“In a democracy, a government cannot unleash central agencies against the free press, especially in the absence of due process. Laws must not be weaponised against journalists, putting their life, liberty and livelihood at risk,” said the statement signed by Dhanya Rajendran of TNM, Abhinandan Sekhri of NL and Ritu Kapur of The Quint.

In an X post, the Press Club of India has also welcomed the SC order quashing the arrest and remand of Purkayastha. The Indian Women's Press Corps also hailed the order in a post.

“The Press Club of India welcomes the Supreme Court order quashing arrest and remand of the Newsclick founder and editor, Prabir Purkayastha after terming them as “illegal”. He was arrested on October 3 last year under draconian UAPA law,” it said.

“We have been raising concerns over invocation of UAPA against the journalists as the government wants to create fear among mediapersons…”, it added in the post.