Delhi Court Adjourns Hearing In Deep Sidhu's Bail Plea Till April 8, Asks State To File Reply

A Delhi Court on Thursday adjourned till April 8th hearing in the bail application filed by Deep Sidhu, accused in the Red Fort violence case in connection with the farmer's tractor rally on Republic Day.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar adjourned the matter after the hearing could not be taken up on account of the roster being changed for the Court of Additional Sessions Judge Charu Aggarwal.

The matter was then transferred to Additional Sessions Judge Neelofer Abida Perveen, however, as the judge was on leave, the hearing further got transferred to the link judge, ASJ Kumar who fixed the date for further hearing to April 8th.

The judge, while adjourning the matter, also asked the State to file reply before the next date of hearing.

Deep Sidhu is being represented by Advocate Abhishek Gupta along with Advocates H. S. Khosa, Jaspreet S. Rai, Mandeep Sidhu and Jasdeep S. Dhillon whereas Additional Public Prosecutor Gyan Prakash Ray appears for the State.

District and Sessions Judge Girish Kathpalia yesterday had transferred to the Court of Additional Sessions Judge Charu Aggarwal, the bail application moved by Deep Sidhu after observing that since the earlier proceedings in the matter were heard by other Courts, it would be appropriate for the District and Sessions Judge to decide which Court will hear the bail application further.

Background

An FIR was registered against Deep Sidhu by the Crime Branch (Central Delhi) of the Delhi Police in connection with the violence that broke out at Red Fort on Republic Day under sec. 147, 148, 149, 152, 186, 353, 332, 307, 308, 395, 397, 427 and 188 of the IPC read with sec. 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act, 1959 and sec. 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984. Sidhu has been accused of instigating violence as being the alleged "main instigator" in the case.

In other news, CMM Gajendra Singh Nagar vide order dated 26th February 2021 directed the police officials to conduct fair and impartial investigation to 'unearth the truth' in the matter regarding Sidhu's involvement in the case. The development came after Advocate Abhishek Gupta had moved an application in the Court seeking directions to the investigating agency to call, preserve and make part of the investigation the other records and material pertaining to the case.

During the course of hearing, it was submitted by Advocate Gupta appearing for Sidhu that "I never urged people to go to the Red Fort. Nor did I call anyone to gather at the Red Fort. You have all the videos. Wheareas there are videos of other people also asking to come at the Red Fort. They have considered my video but they must also consider videos of others too. I am not the main accused. Before I reached there, people had already broken the barricades. I was trying to pacify the crowd and help the police."

However, another application was also moved by Deep Sidhu seeking security in jail premises which was withdrawn after Advocate Gupta informed the judge that Sidhu was already being kept in a separate cell.