The Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi Government has given its sanction to the Delhi Police and cleared the path for it to prosecute youth leader, and pro-democracy activist Dr. Umar Khalid under the stringent anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on Friday.
News reports quote a senior Delhi government officer saying, “We have given prosecution sanction in all the Delhi riots related cases registered by the police. Now, it is up to the courts to see who are the accused.” The reports add that the Delhi Police, which works under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has received the sanctions to now prosecute Khalid in the Delhi riots conspiracy case, in which he was arrested. According to the reports citing this “officer” the MHA has also given its nod to probe allegations against Umar Khalid, a former JNU scholar and student leader, under the anti-terror UAPA. The reports added that after these prosecution sanctions against Khalid were received a fortnight ago and added that the Delhi Police can now name Khalid in their supplementary charge sheet.
These sanctions are a legal requirement, stated news reports, before an individual can be prosecuted under UAPA. “To prosecute one under section 13 of the UAPA, we need sanction from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which we have already received. For prosecution under section — 16,17 and 18 of the UAPA, we have received sanction from the Delhi government,” the officer was quoted.
One big misconception is that law and order in Delhi is only under Central govt.
Delhi Police is under Central Govt.
But to prosecute anyone in Delhi, you need clearance from Delhi govt.
See in Umar Khalid case today. Delhi govt gave permission to prosecute him under UAPA.
— Abhishek (@AbhishBanerj) November 6, 2020
The Delhi Police have filed a 17,500-page long chargesheet against 15 people for allegedly “propagating violence” during the Delhi riots of February 2020. The chargesheet has been filed under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), stated multiple news reports. The Police also “attached WhatsApp chats” from February 24, Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020.
Rights activists, and secular citizens have condemned the Delhi Government’s quick sanction to prosecute Khalid.
Disgraceful @ArvindKejriwal . https://t.co/fxpha647GT
— Suchitra Vijayan (@suchitrav) November 6, 2020
As an angry young politician had correctly remarked once – Sab Mile Hue Hain Ji !! ? https://t.co/UvgDoNp8fV pic.twitter.com/P6ZO02280J
— Akash Banerjee (@TheDeshBhakt) November 6, 2020
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