Delhi court remands 8 accused to 12-day custody

Delhi Court Remands Eight to Judicial Custody

A Delhi court on Friday remanded eight people to a 12-day judicial custody for their alleged involvement in the violence during a demolition drive near a mosque in the Turkman Gate area.

Bail Applications Filed

Five other accused, who are alleged to have pelted stones near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque, sought bail in the court of Judicial Magistrate Sayesha Chada. Their defense counsels claimed they were assaulted by jail officers.

The court issued a notice to the Delhi Police regarding the bail application. It also directed the jail superintendent to provide medical records for all five accused before the next hearing.

Time Granted for Bail Hearing

The defense counsels for Mohammad Arib, Kashif, Adnan, Mohammad Kaif, and Sameer requested more time to prepare their arguments due to a new status report. The court granted them time until January 13.

Details of Arrests

With the recent arrests, police have apprehended 13 individuals, including a juvenile. During Friday’s hearing, eight more accused—Afaan, Adil, Shahnawaz, Amir Hamza, Ubadullah, Atharr, Mohammad Imran, and Mohammad Imran—were presented in court.

The court remanded all eight to judicial custody until January 21. The court noted that the grounds for arrest had been provided to all accused and that their presence at the site of violence was evident.

Opposition to Remand Application

The defense counsel opposed the remand application, arguing that the police did not provide video evidence of their involvement. Delhi Police stated that all arrests were based on identification by constables and CCTV footage where the accused were visible.

Delhi Police invoked Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the recent arrests, along with other provisions related to rioting and obstructing public servants.

Injuries Reported

Police reported that six personnel were injured during the stone-pelting incident, with some injuries to vital areas like the head. The defense counsel argued that there was no intent to murder, claiming the injuries were minor. The court noted that the severity of the injuries would be determined at trial.

Legal Representation

Advocate Tushar Kadian has been appointed as the Public Prosecutor for the case, representing the State. Advocate Atul Srivastava has been appointed as the Additional Public Prosecutor for the Delhi Police.

Background of the Incident

An anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque in the Ramlila Maidan area triggered violence on the night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Many people pelted stones at police personnel, injuring six, including the station house officer.

Police sources indicated that the violence was likely sparked by a social media post claiming the mosque was being demolished during the drive, leading to a gathering of people.

They estimated that 150 to 200 people were involved in throwing stones and glass bottles at police and Municipal Corporation of Delhi workers.

Details of the Demolition Drive

MCD Deputy Commissioner Vivek Kumar stated that around 36,000 square feet of encroached area was cleared during the drive. A diagnostic center, a banquet hall, and two boundary walls were demolished, but he clarified that the mosque was not damaged.