Turkman Gate violence: Delhi court grants bail to one accused

A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to one of the accused in the stonepelting incident during a demolition exercise near FaizeElahi mosque in Turkman Gate early this monthAdditional Sessions Judge Joginder Prakash Nahar granted bail to Ubedullah a street vendor on a bond of Rs 25000 with one surety of the like amountThe prosecution largely relied on CCTV footage and the disclosure of a coaccused alleging that Ubedullah was part of a violent crowd that obstructed police indulged in stonepelting and caused damage to public propertyM K Malik and A F Faizi the counsel for the accused emphasised that the First Information Report FIR names several other persons but not Ubedullah and that the entire case against him is a fishing expedition premised on a single omnibus identifying witness and prejudicial reliance on CCTV footage which does not show any overt act by himFurthermore they argued that being a resident of the area the CCTV footage only captured Ubedullah emerging from his house to search for his minor sister and did not confirm his involvement in the surrounding violenceIt is noted that the accused herein is a resident of Turkman Gate Delhi It is submitted on behalf of the accused that the residence of the accused is hardly 50 metres away from the place of the incident and he has not committed any act of offence in the present case Hence it is noted that it is natural for the accused to be present near his house said the court order dated January 20The court noted that the accused was the sole breadwinner of his family and is responsible as a caretaker for his paralysed fatherThe accused was also noted to have no prior criminal recordThe defence counsel reassured the court that the accused is not a flight risk and cannot tamper with evidence as all material evidence is in police custody and the key witnesses are police officials who cannot be influenced by a young street vendor of modest meansThe court granted bail to Ubedullah on the conditions that he will cooperate with the investigation appear for trial when called not tamper with evidence not pose a flight risk and will not attempt to influence any witnessesTill date 18 accused have been arrested in connection with the violence near Turkman Gate On January 14 a separate magisterial court had denied bail to five accusedThe case pertains to violence during an antiencroachment drive near the mosque in the Ramlila Maidan area on the intervening night of January 6 and 7The police said rumours were spread on social media that the mosque opposite Turkman Gate was being demolished prompting people to gather at the spotThey said around 150200 people hurled stones and glass bottles at the police and MCD personnel injuring six policemen including the areas station house officerThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever