Image courtesy: Praveen Khanna / The Indian Express
Delhi High Court has granted bail to a ragpicker named Jahid who was arrested in connection with the Jahangirpuri riots that took place during a Hanuman Jayanti procession earlier this year. The young man is believed to be 18-19 years old.
The court reported held, “Looking at his period of custody; the investigation being complete, and the petitioner being no more required for the purpose of investigation, is admitted to bail on his executing a personal bond of Rs. 20,000/- with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Court/ Duty MM.”
Most importantly, Justice Yogesh Khanna found that Jahid was not identified in any of the CCTV footage. The court observed, “So far as the petitioner herein is concerned, he has not been identified in any of the CCTV coverage. Admittedly, he is aged about 18-19 years and is running in custody since 17.04.2022. The chargesheet has since been filed, hence the investigation against petitioner stood completed.”
The FIR was registered under sec. 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 332, 323, 427, 436, 307 ,120B of the Indian Penal Code and sec. 27 of the Arms Act.
Brief background of the case
Communal clashes allegedly broke out during a procession in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area on April 16, 2022. Violence broke out in the area when a religious procession of the majority community made its way past a mosque on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. Nine people, including eight police personnel, were injured during the violence. It is alleged that procession participants allegedly chanted abusive slogans, entered a mosque during namaz and tried to plant a saffron flag inside.
The violence was followed by an “anti-encroachment drive” in the area. The local civic body, which is run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the drive was launched to clear illegal constructions in the area. But Muslims say their properties were disproportionately targeted and they also questioned the timing of the drive, which continued for an hour after the Supreme Court gave an interim order to stop it.
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