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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Karnataka power tussle: BJP leader calls Siddaramaiah 'Sultan for 15 days'
Bengaluru/Bagalkot (PTI): In the midst of the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress in Karnataka, senior BJP leader and MP Govind Karjol called CM Siddaramaiah "Pandrah din-ka-Sultan" (Sultan for 15 days), and said after that, he will not be the chief minister of the state.
Speculation has once again surfaced within the Congress party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for Assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, are announced.
"With the fight for the CM chair in the Congress, there seems to be no administration at Vidhana Soudha. The result for Siddaramaiah's CM chair fight will also be declared, along with election results for five states (four states and one union territory) and bypoll results for Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly seats in Karnataka," Karjol, a former Deputy CM, said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "As per today's information, Siddaramaiah is a Sardar for fifteen days, he is Pandrah din-ka-Sultan, after that Siddaramaiah will not be the chief minister of the state."
Stating that Shivakumar is ready to take up the top job, the MP said that this is the reason Siddaramaiah's supporters have gone to New Delhi to meet the Congress President.
"Already 40-odd legislators have lobbied in support of Siddaramaiah; about 50 are lobbying in support of Shivakumar. Amid this fight for the CM chair, the administration has completely collapsed," he said, urging the government to focus on addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer by releasing at least Rs 50 crore per district.
PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Monday met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary (in charge of Karnataka) Randeep Surjewala in New Delhi and requested them to address the speculation regarding the change of leadership in Karnataka.
Subsequently, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa too met the party leadership in Delhi.
Both Jarkiholi and Mahadevappa are considered close to Siddaramaiah.
While MLAs and leaders who want Shivakumar to be elevated as CM have recently claimed they expect some "sweet news" by May 15, which is their leader's birthday.
Meanwhile, a team of 40 MLAs is preparing to visit New Delhi to press the Congress high command for a Cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka hit out at the Congress leadership for indulging in "power tussle" instead of addressing the people's concerns. He called the government "anti-people" and "dead" to the people of the state.
With the fight for the CM chair, the ruling Congress in Karnataka seems to be shifting to Delhi. Congress MLAs are repeatedly touring Delhi, upset over the state leadership amid a power struggle between the CM and Deputy CM. This proves that there is no value for the state leadership," he said.
Pointing out that the Deputy CM Shivakumar was not present at the recent special cabinet meeting, which decided on internal reservation among SCs, the opposition leader said, "If the cabinet meeting was held purposely, despite knowing that Shivakumar was in Delhi, it proves that there are factions within the party"
"This government is dead in a way," he said, as he hit out at the Congress MLAs and Ministers, including Shivakumar, for doing "Delhi Yatras" instead of addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer, picking up in the state.
