Delhi HC rejects NewsClick founder, official's plea challenging arrest

The Delhi High Court today rejected a plea by NewsClick founder Prabir Purakayastha and the portal's human resources department head Amit Chakravarty challenging their arrest and subsequent remand in a case lodged under an anti-terror law.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela dismissed their plea stating that the petitions did not hold any merit, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"In the present case too, the offences which are alleged, fall within the ambit of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and directly impact the stability, integrity and sovereignty of the country, and are of utmost importance since they would affect the national security," the court said.

Purakayastha and Chakravarty were arrested by a special cell of the Delhi Police on October 3. They subsequently moved the High Court challenging the arrest as well as the seven-day police custody and sought immediate release as an interim relief.

A case has been lodged against the duo under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), for allegedly receiving money to spread pro-China propaganda in India.

According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal allegedly came from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and cause disaffection against the country.

The FIR also alleged that Purakayastha conspired with a group People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) to sabotage the electoral process during the parliamentary elections in 2019.