Delhi court granted bail to 17 students and freelance journalists arrested by the Delhi police

New Delhi ( Raghwendra Pratap Singh) :

A Delhi court on Monday night granted bail to 17 students and freelance journalists arrested by the Delhi Police during the protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

In four separate orders passed between 9 PM and 9:25 PM, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar of Patiala House Courts granted bail to the 17 accused who were produced before the Court.

Delhi Police had asked the Court to send them to judicial remand for two weeks.The Court said that the allegations against them are serious, and one police official has sustained injuries. It underscored that while any person has the right to protest peacefully, “assaulting police officials on duty is a serious concern which cannot be permitted under the garb of peaceful protest”.

However, Judge Kumar added that all the offences involved in the present case except the offence punishable under Section 132 (assault or criminal force used to deter a public servant from discharging their official duty) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) are bailable in nature.

The Court also noted that the accused are young persons and not habitual offenders.“Even the offence punishable u.s 132 BNS provides for maximum imprisonment of 2 years only.

The accused persons are of young age and does not appear to be habitual offenders. They have their entire career lying ahead. Therefore, considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the accused persons are admitted to bail subject to furnishing of bail bond in the sum of Rs. 15,000/- with one surety of like amount,” the Court ordered in each case.

"The accused persons are of young age and do not appear to be habitual offenders. They have their entire career lying ahead.

- (Patiala House Court)