The Saket District Court granted bail to Kapil Baisla (Gujjar) in the case of firing shots during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests at Shaheen Bagh on February 1, 2020.
Baisla’s advocate Narveer Dabas had said that Baisla was falsely implicated for the crime he did not commit and that the case had been filed after an unexplained delay of 6 hours and nothing had been recovered from him even after days of him being in judicial custody. While seeking bail, Dabas also told the court, “It is further submitted that the applicant has clean antecedents and he has never been involved in any other case in the past.”
Granting bail to Baisla, Additional Sessions Judge Gulshan Kumar said, “On considering the totality of facts and circumstances, the accused Kapil Baisala is admitted to bail on furnishing bail bond in a sum of Rs 25,000 with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Metropolitan Magistrate.”
On February 1, when shot twice near the Shaheen Bagh protest site, he had said, “Sirf Hinduon ka raj chalega (Only Hindus will rule).” He was arrested on the spot and two empty shells of fired bullets were also recovered from the site. On February 6, the Delhi Police had told the court that the shooting was a “well-thought-out” incident and that Baisla needs to be interrogated to make sure whether or not he was part of a “political conspiracy”.
Soon after Baisla was arrested, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), Rajesh Deo, had released photos of Baisla with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders saying that he had joined the party a year ago along with his father.
However, Baisla’s father contradicted the claims of the Delhi Police saying, “He was a follower of Modi and Amit Shah. My son always speaks of Hindustan and Hindutva.”
Father of Kapil Gujjar says, “My son is ‘sewak’ of PM Modi and Amit Shah.”
Why didn’t ANI run this news? The video belongs to them.Aslo, will Amit Shah Army (Delhi Police) release a statement stating what Kapil Gujjar’s father is saying?
pic.twitter.com/RBMLNcVzWS— Nihal Kirnalli (@NihalKirnalli) February 5, 2020
Post his release, Baisla almost received a hero’s welcome by his supporters.
Komal Sharma will never be caught
Gopal Sharma will be out of jail
Kapil Gujjar is out & celebrating
Thet are the new ‘Goli Maaro’ icons of BJP
What would media & social media say if a Muslim had got the welcome Kapil is getting for shooting at women?pic.twitter.com/ob0KrJzXWF
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) March 8, 2020
The move was lambasted on social media for people like him being applauded for violence nd being glorified for victimizing the minorities.
NOT shocking, if true.#ShaheenBagh shooter Kapil Gujjar seems to have got a hero’s welcome. People condoning and applauding violence. Waah!
In the past we’ve seen union minister garland those accused of mob lynching.pic.twitter.com/SsJlf5YJ1f
— Zeba Warsi (@Zebaism) March 8, 2020
#ShaheenBagh shooter Kapil Gujjar receives a hero’s welcome. ?
The country for sure seems to be going in the reverse gear ?
— Santosh Addagulla (@santoshspeed) March 8, 2020
Wondering what would have happened if a Muslim shooter had fired on a Hindu crowd shouting “Only Muslims will rule here”?
But Kapil Gujjar, the Shaheen Bagh shooter, is out on bail. And being felicitated for his ‘brave act’ of firing on unarmed protesters. pic.twitter.com/a1Q4zYfCPy
— Zeyad Masroor Khan (@zeyadkhan) March 8, 2020
Baisla’s bail comes at a time when many anti-CAA protestors are languishing in custody on charges of sedition, just for either being part of a protest or giving a speech. This just goes to show the impunity granted to people who commit heinous crimes, further threatening the minorities at a time when they, along with the marginalized sections of the society are fighting hard to retain their place in the country post the announcement of the fascist policies of the ruling government.
The bail order may be read below.
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