Jahan had said in application that the incarceration amid the pandemic had taken a toll also on her mental health
Clarion India
NEW DELHI — A Delhi court has rejected the demand for bail by incarcerated anti-CAA activist and former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan who has been held in a Delhi riots case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act since late February.
She had sought interim bail on health reasons after the covid-19 outbreak in the Mandoli prison here.
Additional Sessions Judge Amiabh Rawat on Thursday said the court did not find any cogent reason for granting bail for medical ailments.
“Considering the gravity of the offences including Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 with which the applicant is charged, the discussion in the preceding paragraphs and the Jail Report, I do not deem it a fit case to grant interim bail to accused Ishrat Jahan,” the court noted.
Jahan had said in application that the incarceration amid the pandemic had taken a toll also on her mental health as some of the fellow inmates had tested positive for coronavirus disease.
Jahan’s lawyer Ramesh Gupta, had argued that her client was a practising advocate without any criminal record. He also said that the applicant battled with health complications with a history of cervical, spine injury (lower back pain) and migraine.
The bail application said that 15 days ago, Jahan fell inside the jail bathroom and suffered spinal injuries.
However, public prosecutor Amit Prasad retorted that the accused was held under the UAPA Arms Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the Indian Penal Code on charges pertaining to criminal conspiracy, rioting and murder, among others.
He also said that according to the “verified medical report”, the applicant did not need urgent medical attention. The covid-19 situation is also under control, Prasad added.
Jahan is one of the 21 people held under UAPA in connection with the Delhi riots case. The police have accused them of hatching a criminal conspiracy to resort to roadblocks in Delhi’s north-east during anti-CAA protests that triggered violence which claimed over 50 lives and left hundreds injured in late February.
However, the rights activists have said that they are being wrongly framed and accuse the police of shielding the real culprits.