PRABIR PURKAYASTHA Vs. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Bail Application under Sec. 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as "Cr.P.C') has been filed on behalf of the Petitioner, Prabir Purkayastha seeking Anticipatory Bail in FIR No. 116/2020 dtd. 26/8/2020 under Sec. 406/4208120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as "IPC") registered at Police Station Economic Offences Wing, Delhi Police.

(2.) The Respondent has issued a Notice under Sec. 41-A Cr.P.C., for summoning the Applicant for 7/7/2021 along with certain documents, failing which he may be liable for arrest.

(3.) It is submitted that the Applicant is a respectable and law-abiding citizen of India having deep roots in the Society and is residing with his partner. The Applicant, Prabir is a reputed journalist having, being founder editor of the digital media platform Newsclick.in set up in 2009, which was one of the most popular and reputed digital media platforms in the country, as well as, abroad. The Applicant actively advocated for the cause of downtrodden and oppressed communities in India, as well as, abroad, as well as, reported issues of national and international importance in an independent and impartial manner. The expertise of the Applicant in various issues relating to industry and technology have also been recognised by the Government of India. He has been a member of the National Steering Committee, ASTeC Programme, as well as, a Member of the Expert Group on Industrial Application, both of which are convened under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. He has published several scholarly articles in various national and international publications in the fields of Engineering, Software Technology, energy policy and other social issues.