Activist Narwal granted bail in riots case

ADelhi court yesterday granted bail to Pinjra Tod activist Natasha Narwal in connection with the Delhi riots case, on the grounds that video shown by the prosecution does not show anything to suggest that she was in an unlawful assembly or incited violence.

Narwal was in judicial custody since May 24 in connection with this case.

The police had accused her of being a “main conspirator and instigator of the riots”, which led to death of man named Amaan.

Despite being released on bail in this matter, she will not be released from the prison as there is another case registered against her under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

While enlarging Narwal on bail in the present case, additional sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat noted: “Certain videos were shown in the court by the special prosecutor claiming these showed her being a part of unlawful assembly. However the videos do not show the accused indulging or inciting the violence.”

The court also observed that she is not a flight risk and there is no threat to witnesses in the case, as they are either police officers or protected witnesses.

On Wednesday, the Delhi Police’s special cell had filed a voluminous charge-sheet against Narwal and 14 others under various sections of the UAPA, the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

All the accused were yesterday produced before Karkardooma court. Additional sessions judge Rawat took cognisance of all the offences, except for some sections for which sanction is required. The voluminous chargesheet was filed in little less than 200 days of filing a FIR (first information report) to investigate the “conspiracy” angle behind the riots that rocked northeast Delhi in February this year.