The Supreme Court has intervened in the case involving NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, who is currently detained in Tihar Jail under charges laid out by the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 

On Tuesday, the apex court directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to establish a medical board to assess Purkayastha's health condition.

The directive, issued by a bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, underscores the necessity for a comprehensive evaluation of Purkayastha's medical status, given his incarceration and the gravity of the allegations against him. 

The court emphasized that the medical board, to be appointed by the director of AIIMS, must meticulously review Purkayastha's medical records as well as his jail history.

This move comes in response to concerns raised by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Purkayastha, regarding the accuracy of the medical report submitted by prison authorities. 

Sibal contended that the report failed to provide an accurate portrayal of Purkayastha's health condition, necessitating an independent medical assessment.

The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed pleas filed by Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty, the head of NewsClick's human resources department, challenging their arrest and subsequent police remand. 

Both individuals were apprehended by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on October 3, in connection with allegations of receiving substantial funds from China aimed at destabilizing India's sovereignty and fostering dissent.

The FIR lodged against Purkayastha also alleges his involvement in a conspiracy with the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) to subvert the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

These accusations have drawn significant attention, highlighting the complexities surrounding issues of national security and freedom of the press.