Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M A Baby on Thursday welcomed the Delhi High Court’s decision to quash the FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police against Newsclick and its Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha, as well as the subsequent Enforcement Directorate case arising from it, describing the verdict as a significant vindication of independent journalism.
In a post on social media platform X, Baby said the High Court had delivered a strong indictment of the proceedings initiated against the news portal and its founder-editor. Referring to the court’s observations, he noted that the proceedings were found to be “mala fide,” an “arbitrary attack” without “a whisper of any incriminating allegation” and amounted to “a gross abuse of the process of law”.
”Heartily welcome the Delhi High Court verdict quashing the FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police and the subsequent Enforcement Directorate case against Newsclick and its Editor-in-Chief, Prabir Purkayastha,” Baby said.
The CPI(M) leader alleged that the judgment had exposed what he termed as politically motivated attempts by the Union government and central agencies to target a media organisation known for its critical reporting and pro-people stance.
”The judgement exposes the blatant lies concocted by the Union Government in collusion with central agencies to target independent journalism that unapologetically took a pro-people stand,” Baby said.
Calling for further action following the court’s ruling, he demanded that all remaining proceedings against Newsclick and Purkayastha, including cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), be withdrawn immediately.
”The farcical UAPA case and other proceedings against Newsclick and Purkayastha should be withdrawn immediately, and the outlet and its journalists must be compensated for the injustice inflicted upon them,” he said.
Baby also congratulated Purkayastha, journalists and employees associated with the digital news platform, expressing hope that the organisation would continue its work despite the legal and political challenges it had faced.
”Congratulations to Prabir Purkayastha and the journalists and workers of Newsclick. May your brand of journalism continue to thrive,” he said.
The remarks came after the Delhi High Court quashed the EOW FIR and the related Enforcement Directorate proceedings against Newsclick and Purkayastha, marking a major development in a case that had sparked a wider debate over press freedom, investigative agencies and the treatment of independent media organisations. The matter had drawn attention from journalists, civil rights groups and opposition parties, many of whom had raised concerns over the use of investigative and anti-terror laws against media entities.