CAA Protests: Delhi Court Grants Bail To 12 Accused In Seemapuri Violence, But On An Unusual Condition

The additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar Malhotra directed the accused persons to join the probe as and when directed by the investigating officer/station house officer so that the police can clear their doubts regarding the CAA.

Delhi Court granted relief to accused on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 each and one surety of like amount. (File Photo/ PTI)

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to as many as 12 people who were arrested last month in connection with the violence that erupted in Seemapuri area of northeast Delhi during the protests against controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). However, the court granted bail to all accused on an unusual condition of getting their doubts on the amended Citizenship law cleared by the area police. According to news agency PTI, the additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar Malhotra directed the accused persons to join the probe as and when directed by the investigating officer/station house officer so that the police can clear their doubts regarding the CAA. "Applicants shall not do any act which may disturb public peace. Applicants shall put their appearance on January 19 between 2 to 4 pm at Seemapuri Police Station, where the IO/SHO shall make endeavour to remove the doubts of the applicants in respect of CAA," the court order said. What raises eyebrows on Court's order is the fact that how much knowledge would a police official have on the controversial citizenship law? According to analysts, protesters and political pundits, there are several theories and repercussions to the newly implemented law. ALSO READ | JNU Violence: Delhi Police Identifies JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh, 8 Others As Accused; Release Photos At a time when political leaders of the ruling NDA government, that proposed the bill and got it passed from both the Houses, are unable to reflect similar stand on the aftermaths of CAA, it is questionable how police officials will be able to make people clear their doubts - especially to those who are protesting against it? Granting the relief on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 each and one surety of like amount, the court also asked the accused to not disturb public peace. The court observed that everyone had the right to hold peaceful protest in a democracy but damaging public property was not acceptable. "Right to protest is recognised as a fundamental right in a democracy but this right of peaceful protest and open criticism of government policies does not extend to disturbing the public order, i.e., public peace, safety and tranquillity," the court said. WATCH | Anti-CAA, NRC protest after Friday prayers in Delhi and Hyderabad "The Constitution of India also prohibits a person from making any statement that incites people to commit an offence," it said.  Those who were granted bail included Amjad Khan, Abdul Kalam, Rajaullah Khan, Nisar, Amiruddin, Suaib, Ahtmaad Ahmed, Waqar, Anis, Hazi Mehraj, Mohd Shoib and Mohd Amir. Advocates Zakir Raja, Shahab Ahmad and Satya Prakash Gautam, appearing for some of the accused, told the judge that 10 out of 12 accused were in judicial custody since December 21 last year and some of them were not even present at the site of the protest. The advocates of Shoib and Amir, who were sent to judicial custody on January 5, claimed that the duo was arrested despite protesting peacefully. Police said the arrested people were part of an unruly mob and they were a "threat" to public peace. It also said that the accused damaged public property and pelted stones at them. On December 20, stone-pelting and incidents of violence were reported from Daryaganj in Old Delhi and Seemapuri during protests against the CAA. Claiming that some of their personnel were seriously injured in the Seemapuri protest, the police had slapped section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC against all the accused. The advocates, however, said told the court that section 307 was wrongly invoked since "admittedly the nature of injuries sustained by police officials is simple in nature". (With inputs from PTI)