After being lodged in Tihar Jail for nearly seven months, NewsClick founder and editor Prabir Purkayastha was granted bail on May 15, following the Supreme Court's declaration of his arrest as "invalid." The court ordered his release on bail bonds worth ₹1 lakh, with conditions of not contacting witnesses and not traveling abroad without court permission. This comes after Mr. Purkayastha's partner, Githa Hariharan's name was brought up in the chargesheet, raising questions about the validity of his arrest.
Prabir Purkayastha: The NewsClick Editor Granted Bail After Seven Months in Jail
Background:
Prabir Purkayastha is the founder and editor of the news website NewsClick. On August 20, 2022, he was arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with a case of alleged criminal conspiracy and sedition. The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Delhi Police's Special Cell against NewsClick and Purkayastha for allegedly publishing articles that were "intended to incite hatred" and "promote enmity" between different religious groups.
Purkayastha's arrest sparked widespread condemnation from journalists and rights activists, who accused the government of suppressing press freedom. The Editors Guild of India and the Press Club of India issued statements expressing concern about Purkayastha's arrest and calling for his release.
Bail Granted:
After being lodged in Tihar Jail for nearly seven months, Purkayastha was granted bail on May 15, 2023, by the Supreme Court. The court declared his arrest as "invalid" and ordered his release on bail bonds worth ₹1 lakh. The court imposed conditions on Purkayastha not to contact witnesses and not to travel abroad without court permission.
The bail was granted after the Supreme Court took into consideration the fact that Purkayastha's partner, Githa Hariharan, had been named in the chargesheet in the case. The court said that this raised questions about the validity of Purkayastha's arrest.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers:
1. Why was Prabir Purkayastha arrested? He was arrested for alleged criminal conspiracy and sedition in connection with articles published on the NewsClick website.
2. What was the Supreme Court's ruling on Purkayastha's arrest? The Supreme Court declared his arrest as "invalid" and ordered his release on bail.
3. What were the conditions imposed on Purkayastha's bail? He is not to contact witnesses and is not to travel abroad without court permission.
4. What is the significance of Githa Hariharan's name being included in the chargesheet? It raised questions about the validity of Purkayastha's arrest, as it suggested that he may have been targeted because of his partner's involvement.
5. What is the current status of the case against Purkayastha? The trial is ongoing and the next hearing is scheduled for June 15, 2023.
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