The apex court urged for urgent hearing in the case involving Asif Iqbal Tanha, Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Delhi Police on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court to challenge the bail granted by the High Court to anti-CAA activists Asif Iqbal Tanha, Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita booked under stringent anti-terror law UAPA in a Delhi riots conspiracy case.
On Tuesday, a bench of Justices Sidharth Mridul and Anup Jairam Bhambhani granted them bail observing that there is no evidence against the accused for inciting violence or terror activities.
“In its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the State, the line between constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy,” said the court.
The bail orders are a significant development in the case where Delhi Police have invoked terror charges accusing them of hatching a conspiracy and creating roadblocks during the mass protests against Citizenship Amendment Act in northeast Delhi. The clash of pro-CAA mob with anti-CAA protests raked up anti-Muslim communal violence killing 53 people in February 2020.
The order was hailed by legal experts and activists but Delhi Police are not satisfied with the judgment.
“We are not satisfied with the interpretation of the provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the Hon’ble High Court in a matter concerned with grant of bail. We are proceeding with the filing of a Special Leave Petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India…..,” a statement of Delhi Police was quoted by India Today as saying.
Police have also claimed that the high court has passed its judgment without due application of mind to the evidence mentioned in the charge sheet. It also sought urgent hearing in the matter.
