Supreme Court Seeks Response From NewsClick and Founder Prabir Purkayastha on Enforcement Directorate Appeal
The Supreme Court has directed digital news portal NewsClick and its founder Prabir Purkayastha to submit their response regarding a challenge filed by the Enforcement Directorate against a previous High Court ruling. The federal financial investigation agency sought a four-week extension due to the unavailability of its lead counsel.
- The apex court has formally sought replies from NewsClick and Prabir Purkayastha regarding the ED's petition.
- The financial probe agency requested a four-week adjournment as Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju was unavailable.
- The legal battle stems from an earlier judicial decision by the High Court that favored the defendants.
NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court of India has formally demanded a reply from independent news portal NewsClick and its founding director, Prabir Purkayastha, concerning a special leave petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The federal anti-money laundering agency is seeking to overturn a prior ruling issued by the High Court, prompting the highest judiciary to intervene in the protracted legal dispute.
This high-stakes legal confrontation originates from an ongoing, expansive financial investigation into the funding mechanisms of the digital media outlet. The Enforcement Directorate has leveled serious allegations against the portal under stringent anti-terror and financial crime legislation, claiming illicit monetary inflows routed through international channels to destabilize domestic security. The current proceedings in the apex court represent a crucial phase in the state's efforts to reverse favorable judicial relief previously granted to the defendants by the High Court.
At the onset of the latest hearing, representatives for the prosecution requested a four-week adjournment, noting that Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, who is leading the arguments for the agency, was unavailable to appear in court. According to reports by The Hindu, the bench acknowledged the submission and granted the required extension, pushing the timeline for formal submissions and subsequent oral arguments further into the judicial calendar.
