Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Granted Bail

A Delhi court on Wednesday granted bail to Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad in a case related to anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests at Daryaganj in December 2019.

However, the court restrained Azad from visiting Delhi for four weeks and asked him to not hold any dharna till elections.

Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau granted the relief to Azad on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 25,000.

The court also said that before going to Saharanpur, if Azad wants to go anywhere, including Jama Masjid, in Delhi for 24 hours, the police will escort him there.

Special circumstances call for special conditions, the judge said.

During the verdict pronouncement, the lawyer appearing for Azad said the Bhim Army chief faces threat in Uttar Pradesh.

The court had, on Tuesday, slammed Delhi Police for failing to show any evidence against Azad, observing that people are out on the streets because things which should have been said inside Parliament were not said.

The court asked the investigating officer of the police to put on record all the evidence which showed that Azad was allegedly giving incriminatory speeches at the gathering at Jama Masjid and any law which showed that the gathering there was unconstitutional.

The court had listed the matter for further hearing on Wednesday and has asked the state to produce FIRs registered against the Bhim Army chief in Saharanpur.

Azad’s outfit had called for a protest march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar against the amended Citizenship Act on December 20, without police permission. He was arrested along with other 15 people people. However, they were granted bail by the court on January 9.