TheSite

By Staff Reporter, The Site

The Karkardooma Court (Delhi) on Saturday granted bail to student activist Gulfisha Fatima in a case related to the communal violence in New Delhi in February this year. Fatima, however, will remain in Judicial custody in connection with a UAPA Case.

The Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat allowed bail after hearing her plea for bail on parity in FIR No. 50/2020 [PS­ Jafrabad.

The court, while granting bail, noted that the co­-accused Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal have already been granted bail in the case and their role is stated to be similar to the present applicant/accused.

“It may be noted that when the police argued before the Court that she was also under investigation for the larger conspiracy in the UAPA case, to this, the court said, "We will cross the bridge when we come to it,” the court noted.

Fatima was arrested for her involvement in the Jaffrabad and Seelampur protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in April. She was taken in custody since June 3 in a case related to the communal violence in north east Delhi in February.

The court said co-accused Tafsil has been declared a Proclaimed Offender, but Fatima cannot be refused bail for his act and conduct, who will face consequences under the law.

Gulfisha Fatima was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a separate case related to premeditated conspiracy in the riots. She is currently in Tihar prison after she was arrested.

During the hearing, advocate Mehmood Pracha, appearing for Fatima, said she was falsely and maliciously implicated in the present case. He argued she was arrested without any evidence.

He further claimed that no role has been attributed to her except vague and unsubstantiated allegations which have no nexus with the alleged crime.

Fatima had earlier alleged dscrimination, communal slur and mental harassment by the jail staff.

Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.