Even after invading the private chambers and seizing all important gadgets and papers that protect information not meant to be in the public domain, the police haven’t stopped the harassment of Advocate Mehmood Pracha.
On Monday, December 28, Mehmood Pracha was questioned by the Police for allegedly violating social distancing norms during a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in October.
Pracha who represents several accused persons in the Delhi riots told Hindustan Times, “I told them that they should be happy that I protested against the ill treatment of minorities in Pakistan. The police officers who questioned me for over one and a half hours said that I should stop protesting against Pakistan. It made no sense. I could not make head or tail of what my crime was. It is clear that police are harassing me.”
He continued, “First, my office was raided by the special cell on Thursday (December 24). They then registered a case against me at Hazrat Nizamuddin police station. And today (Monday), they summoned me to Chanakyapuri. It is clearly their way of harassing me for speaking the truth and fighting the riot cases. They did not even give me a copy of the FIR (Chanakyapuri police station case), they have registered against me for protesting.”
After the questioning, Mehmood, who calls himself an Ambedkarite, also tweeted about the experience stating that he is not sacred of authority, despite being questioned and interrogated for one and a half hours.
“After one half hour of unnecessary harassment I am still not scared. Pls give up on trying to scare an Ambedkarwadi. Manuwadi Mentality can never scare Ambedkarwadis. Take your best shot we will save the Constitution of India at all costs from both inside and outside dangers. Jai Bhim”, read his social media post.
After one half hour of unnecessary harassment I am still not scared. Pl give up on trying to scare an Ambedkarwadi. Manuwadi Mentality can never scare Ambedkarwadis.Take your best shot we will save Constitution of India at all cost from both inside and outside dangers. Jai Bhim https://t.co/Fb9RnvpkD7 pic.twitter.com/GgeSLKTZ7c
— Mehmood Pracha (@MehmoodPracha) December 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/MehmoodPracha/status/1343532451411406848
According to the media, the Police revealed that on October 3, a protest was organised at Teen Murti in Chanakyapuri without police permission. Accordingly, a case under section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at the Chanakyapuri police station against Mehmood, who allegedly organised the protest.
Eish Singhal, the Deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi) told HT, “A notice was served to the organiser (Pracha) for recording his statement in the case at the police station.” A police officer associated with the case said Pracha’s statement was recorded on Monday afternoon and stayed in the station for about 15 minutes.
Reacting to the raid, several prominent lawyers, activists have condemned the Delhi Special Cell for conducting a search in his office and not providing the video footage of it to the lawyer. However, the Delhi district court has ordered for the preservation of the footage with a seal of the court. Bar associations, like the Supreme Court Bar Association and Bar Council of Delhi have taken note of the arbitrary, illegal and brazen exercise of brute power by the police and actions taken by them contrary to law.
The victims of the North East Delhi pogrom, most of whom are represented by Pracha, too came out in support of the lawyer revealing personal stories of harassment and intimidation by the Delhi Police at a press conference on December 25.
Related:
Mehmood Pracha’s office raid a “pressure tactic” by Police: Delhi Riot victims
Adv Mehmood Pracha’s Office raid: Court summons IO for video footage