SC grants interim bail to Haridwar hate speech accused

NEW DELHI: The main accused in Haridwar hate speech case, Jitender Narayan Tyagi, was granted interim bail for three months on medical grounds by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Tyagi, formerly known as Waseem Rizwi, has been in prison since January for allegedly giving hate speeches at a religious congregation in Haridwar in December.

While granting the relief, a bench of justices Ajay Rastogi and Vikram Nath directed Tyagi to submit an undertaking that he would not give any hate speech or make any such statements on social media platforms.

The court also directed advocate Vikas Singh, who appeared for Tyagi along with advocate Pulkit Srivastava, to advise his client not to indulge in any hate speech. “We consider it appropriate to grant him interim bail on furnishing an undertaking that he will not address the electronic media or social media and will not indulge into such activities any more. On furnishing undertaking and the terms and conditions to the satisfaction of the trial court, the petitioner shall be released on interim bail for the period of three months,” the court order, a copy of which HT has seen, said.

On December 23, Haridwar police registered its first case on the three-day Dharma Sansad held during December 17-19, which caused a furore on social media as the participating religious leaders called for violence against minorities. Police named five people in the case.

Tyagi, named as main accused, was arrested on January

13. He was booked under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between religious groups) and section 298 (uttering words aimed to wound the religious feelings of any person) of the Indian Penal Code.

In his petition in the Supreme Court, Tyagi said his release on bail was essential because he required medical attention. He also pointed out that a chargesheet has been filed against him.