New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has restrained the Delhi police from spreading any kind of details about the charges and evidence gathered against any accused involved in the riots, occurred with any person. This includes those in media or social media platforms.
“The respondent is restrained from issuing any such statements or circulating information regarding allegations and evidence allegedly collected against the petitioner or other accused, to any person, including to the media or on social media platforms,” said a single judge bench of the high court headed by Justice Vibhu Bakhru.
During a court hearing of a petition filed by PinjraTod activist Devangana Kalita, the bench passed the order restricting the leak of information by the police. The activist’s advocates Adit Pujari and Kriti Awasthi reached the court to direct the Delhi Police against circulation of allegations related to the Petitioner to the media during the investigation, and also throughout the trial.
“The petitioner alleges that the Crime Branch of Delhi Police has been selectively leaking certain information regarding the allegations made against the petitioner and the evidence allegedly collected against her,” Devangana said in her plea.
The court issued notice to the Delhi Police and has asked the concerned DCP of the Crime Branch to file a personal affidavit affirming whether any such information as is mentioned in the present petition has been circulated by the officials of the Crime Branch to third persons, journalists or on social media.
“Let the counter-affidavit along with affidavit of the concerned DCP as directed, be filed within a period of two weeks from today. Rejoinder, if any, be filed within a period of one week thereafter, the bench said while posting the matter for further hearing for July 9.
Devangana told the court in the hearing that the police are spreading largely selective and false news which is misleading the people.
Her advocate Adit Pujari mentioned a note allegedly circulated by the Crime Branch and argued that the Crime Branch is spreading false information which is selective and biased to people belonging to the media publications.
Initially, Devangana was booked for Jafrabad violence case, north-east violence case and then for Daryaganj violence case. However, the Delhi Police filed a charge sheet against her and co-accused Natasha in Jafrabad violence case on June 2.
The police said that both Natasha and Devangana were actively involved in invoking the riots near Jafrabad Metro Station in Delhi.
“They were also part of a larger conspiracy and were found to be connected to the ‘India Against Hate’ group and Umar Khalid. The message, found in the phone of an accused, on Whatsapp chat, reveals the conspiracy and the extent of preparation for causing riots,” the statement by the police added.
