4 days ago
Delhi Court Grants Bail to 17 Anti-SIR Protesters
A group of people was arrested after protesting outside a police station in Delhi.
They wanted police to register a case over an allegation involving a police officer and a woman journalist.
Police said the group blocked a public area, manhandled officers and damaged a bus.
The court also noted that one officer was reportedly injured.
The accused said some protesters were hurt, and two said they were beaten after detention.
A judge released all 17 on bail, noting that they were young and that many were students.
The judge said people can protest peacefully, but assaulting police is a serious concern.
The judge asked a senior police official for a report about the alleged mistreatment and ordered relevant CCTV footage to be kept.
The case will continue in court.
A Delhi court granted bail to 17 people arrested during a protest outside Parliament Street Police Station.
The protesters were demanding an FIR over an allegation that a police officer molested a woman journalist during an earlier protest on the SIR row.
Police alleged unlawful assembly, obstruction of public space, manhandling of officers and damage to a police bus; the court noted an officer was reportedly injured.
The court cited the accused people’s young age and students’ right to dissent, while stressing that assaulting police cannot be justified as peaceful protest.
The court ordered a DCP report on custodial-torture allegations by two protesters and directed that relevant police-station CCTV footage be preserved.
- Who
- 17 protesters, Delhi Police and Duty Judicial Magistrate Animesh Kumar.
- What
- The court granted bail to the 17 and sought a police report on custodial-torture allegations by two protesters.
- Where
- Outside Parliament Street Police Station in Delhi.
- When
- The arrests and bail order occurred on Monday; the articles do not specify the date.
- Why
- The protesters were demanding an FIR over an allegation that a police officer molested a woman journalist during a protest on the SIR row.
Accused protesters’ arguments
Police allegations and court’s concerns
Conduct and right to protest
Accused protesters’ arguments
The accused argued they were young, many were students, and they were exercising their democratic right to dissent. They also noted that only 17 of around 50 alleged protesters had been arrested.
Police allegations and court’s concerns
Police alleged unlawful assembly, obstruction of public space, manhandling officers and damage to a bus. The court said peaceful protest is a right but assaulting officers on duty is a serious concern.
Injuries and custody
Accused protesters’ arguments
The accused argued some protesters were injured and their medical examinations were not conducted immediately. Dharmender and Samarth Singh said they were beaten after detention; Sheikh Yunus said he was pushed during the protest.
Police allegations and court’s concerns
The investigating officer presented an MLC reporting an injury to one police official. The court ordered a DCP report on the custodial-torture allegations and preservation of relevant CCTV footage.
Key facts
- People granted bail
- 17
- Bail bond
- ₹15,000, with one surety for the same amount
- Protest location
- Outside Parliament Street Police Station, Delhi
- Police allegations
- Unlawful assembly, obstruction of public space, manhandling officers and damage to a bus
- Injuries reported among accused
- The court noted reported injuries to Samarth Singh, Sheikh Yunus and Dharmender, with differing accounts of how they occurred
- Custodial-torture allegations
- Dharmender and Samarth Singh said they were beaten after detention; the court called for a report from the DCP New Delhi
- CCTV direction
- Relevant footage from Parliament Street Police Station is to be preserved
- FIR
- Registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act
Quotes
Delhi court
The court that granted bail to the 17 protesters and ordered a police report.
“Since the accused Dharmender and Samarth have levelled allegations regarding custodial torture, let a report be called from DCP New Delhi regarding the same. The relevant CCTV footage of PS Parliament Street be also preserved.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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