Delhi Police moves SC challenging bail to Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal in riot case

By LE Desk

New Delhi, June 16, 2021: The Delhi Police has moved the Supreme Court against bail granted to Pinjra Tod activists Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal and Jamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha, who were arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the communal riots in northeast Delhi.

The Delhi Police, in a Special Leave Petition filed before the Supreme Court, has challenged the Delhi High Court’s bail order.

“We are not satisfied with the interpretation of the provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the Hon’ble High Court in a matter concerned with grant of bail. We are proceeding with the filing of a Special Leave Petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India…..,” the Delhi Police said in its statement, reported India Today.

Police have also argued that the high court has passed its judgement without due application of mind to the evidence mentioned in the chargesheet. Police said there is enough evidence in the chargesheet, including WhatsApp messages, social media posts, to establish the allegations of conspiracy for widespread violence.

The Delhi Police’s move comes a day after the high court granted bail to Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal and Asif Iqbal Tanha. All three of them were arrested in May last year in connection with the case related to the clashes that broke out in northeast Delhi in February last year. 

Iqbal Tanha, a 25-year-old student, pursuing his final year of BA (Hons) Persian programme at the Jamia Milia Islamia University, was arrested in the same UAPA case on May 19 last year which was being probed by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.

The High Court, while granting bail to the three activists who were involved in protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), said in its order, “It seems that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the State, the line between constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy”.