2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case: Court modifies bail condition of ex-Cong councillor Ishrat
New Delhi (PTI): In a big relief to former Congress councillor and lawyer Ishrat Jahan, a Delhi court has modified her bail condition in the case involving larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi communal riots and allowed her to move across the country with the prior permission of the court.
She was earlier barred from leaving the national capital region (NCR) without the court's permission in advance.
Jahan, along with several others, has been booked under anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), for allegedly being one of the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi that left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.
In March 2022, a special court had granted bail to Jahan, saying her role in the case, "prima facie", persuaded it to extend her the relief despite the embargoes contained in the law.
The Delhi Police's appeal against the relief is pending in the Delhi High Court.
In an order passed on Friday, Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai noted that the predecessor court had imposed the condition that Jahan shall not leave the national capital territory (NCT) which was in December 2022 modified to the extent of not leaving the National Capital Region (NCR) without intimating the court.
"It is now submitted that the applicant (Jahan) is a practising advocate and the condition imposed by the court is restraining her movement to do the law practice beyond the NCR," the judge noted.
He noted Jahan's submission that after being granted bail, she had not breached any of the conditions imposed by the court.
"Considering the fact that since the grant of bail, the investigating agency or the prosecution has not brought any fact to the notice of the court that the applicant has breached any condition of bail, the court deems it just and appropriate to modify the condition as prayed by the applicant," the judge said.
The court, while modifying the condition said she will not leave India without prior permission of the court, nor would she indulge in any criminal activity.
The prosecution opposed her application, saying the court had already given her "reasonable liberty". However, the judge granted her the relief.
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Several Gurugram schools receive hoax bomb threats
Gurugram (PTI): Several Gurugram schools received another hoax bomb threat emails on Wednesday morning, prompting police to launch searches on the premises.
Police said the email was sent by the 'Khalistan National Army', with threats issued to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to declare April 29 as the "40th Khalistan Declaration Day". It also threatened to bomb the Red Fort in Delhi.
Police said it was a hoax as no suspicious items were found after an intensive search.
Several schools, including Shri Ram, Amity, and the HDFC school, received threatening emails at 8.33 am, when classes had already begun, police said.
The school administrations became aware of the threats around 9 am and immediately informed the police, a senior police officer said.
The schools immediately implemented emergency protocols, with many declaring a holiday and asking parents to take their children home safely, the officer said.
A large number of anxious parents gathered outside the schools, as police and bomb squad teams reached the spots and started checks.
"Around 10 schools have approached the police from morning until now over bomb threats. Police teams are alert, and searches are underway on all the premises", the officer said.
As soon as the information about this email was received, police in Gurugram and Delhi swung into action and started investigation.
Schools immediately implemented emergency protocols upon receiving the mail. Many schools declared a holiday and sent messages to parents, asking them to take their children home. Large crowds of parents gathered outside the schools.
The schools were sanitised by sending a bomb disposal squad as well as a dog squad.
A senior police officer said that police teams thoroughly searched the school premises, classrooms, buildings, and surrounding areas. No suspicious objects or explosive materials were found during the investigation.
"Police teams are seriously investigating the entire matter. Cyber experts are being consulted to determine the authenticity of the email, its source, and the identity of the sender", added the officer.
This is the third time since January that schools have received fake bomb threats.
In March, at least a dozen schools in the city received bomb threat emails, which later turned out to be hoaxes.
Similarly, on January 28, as many as 13 schools received hoax bomb threats via email, forcing authorities to evacuate campuses and suspend classes.
Last month, police arrested a Bangladeshi national whose email ID was allegedly used to make a bomb threat for some payment.
