Aam Aadmi Party leaders accused BJP goons of trying to attack former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his padyatra in West Delhi's Vikaspuri. The Supreme Court has asked the Delhi High Court to quickly hear the bail plea of Sharjeel Imam, who was booked under UAPA for his involvement in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality showed some improvement with AQI in the 'poor' category, but 10 monitoring stations still reported 'very poor' air quality.
On Saturday, former Assistant Professor G N Saibaba passed away at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad after undergoing treatment for post-operative complications. Saibaba, who hailed from Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, was a teacher at Delhi University but was terminated in 2014. He was arrested for alleged Maoist links and was granted bail in 2016, only to receive a life sentence under the UAPA in 2017. However, in a turn of events, he was acquitted in 2022 and again in 2024.
As the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) makes the headlines once again, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticizes the Modi government for not learning from the election results. He raises concerns over the future of Muslims, tribals, and Dalits who have been detained under the stringent law and holds the Congress responsible for enacting it. Owaisi also expresses disappointment in the BJP for making the UAPA even more stringent, despite his opposition.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar criticized Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's recent decision to prosecute author Arundhati Roy under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for an alleged provocative speech made 14 years ago. The NCP chief described the move as a "misuse of power" during a joint press conference with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan. Along with Roy, former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain has also been named in the FIR for the controversial conference which allegedly advocated for the separation of Kashmir from India.
Delhi's Lieutenant Governor has given approval for the prosecution of acclaimed author Arundhati Roy and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain for allegedly making provocative speeches at an event in New Delhi back in 2010. The FIR against them was registered following a complaint made by a social activist, who accused them of discussing and promoting the separation of Kashmir from India.
The state's recent invocation of the stringent UAPA charges against author-activist Arundhati Roy and Central University of Kashmir professor Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain, 14 years after the FIR was first registered, has raised concerns about bypassing the statute of limitation. In addition to IPC charges, the state has also imposed UAPA charges, which grant them more powers and allow them to relax timelines for filing chargesheets and impose strict conditions for bail. This move is crucial for the case to be accepted by the court, especially due to the stay on the sedition law by the Supreme Court.
Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena has given prosecution sanction against author Arundhati Roy and a former professor in Kashmir for allegedly making provocative speeches promoting the separation of Kashmir from India at an event in 2010. The FIR against them was registered on the complaint of a social activist and the issues discussed at the conference included calls for secession and were attended by controversial figures. This decision has sparked reactions from both sides of the political spectrum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his campaign in West Bengal for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by holding a roadshow in Kolkata in support of BJP candidate Tapas Roy. He also visited Maa Sarada's residence and paid tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose before addressing a rally in Barasat. Meanwhile, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor promised to repeal amendments to UAPA and references to religion in the citizenship law if the INDIA bloc comes to power. He also criticized PM Modi, stating that the Congress is gaining seats in states where BJP had previously made a clean sweep.
In a crucial decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that the requirement to supply the grounds of arrest in writing to the accused applies to cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967. The ruling was made while declaring the arrest of NewsClick founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha as illegal. The Court reaffirmed its previous judgment in Pankaj Bansal v Union of India and stated that the communication of grounds of arrest is a constitutional safeguard. This decision holds significant implications for the protection of individual rights in cases involving the UAPA.
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court extended the Pankaj Bansal judgment to apply to cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. This means that any person arrested under UAPA or any other offence has a statutory right to be informed about the grounds of arrest in writing. The Court emphasized that this right is essential for the arrested person to consult their legal counsel and seek appropriate legal remedies. This ruling reaffirms the sanctity of the fundamental right to be informed of the grounds of arrest, as guaranteed by the Constitution of India.