Jantar Mantar Sloganeering Case: Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Bail Plea Filed By Preet Singh

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice on the regular bail plea moved by Preet Singh, accused in connection with the alleged inflammatory and anti-Muslim sloganeering at Jantar Mantar.

Justice Mukta Gupta issued notice after hearing Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain appearing on behalf of Singh in the matter.

The development came after Preet Singh's bail application was rejected by a Sessions Court after observing that he was clearly seen actively participating in the incendiary speeches along with other associates.

Singh is the President of Save India Foundation and is alleged to be the co-­organizer of the event where the inflammatory slogans were shouted. His plea for anticipatory bail was denied by a Metropolitan Magistrate on August 12.  

While rejecting his bail plea, ASJ Anil Antil had observed:

"That prima facie on the basis of the material placed on record and the submissions put forth by the prosecution, it is observed that there has been active participation by the applicant in his individual capacity and also as the main organizer of the event itself which was conducted at Jantar Mantar in spite of the denial of permission by the Delhi Police and total disregard to Covid­19 protocol issued by the Govt. of India."

Singh had been booked under Sections 188 (Disobedience to public servant's order), 269-270 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease danger­ous to life), 153­A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc.), 120­B (Criminal conspiracy) and 34 of IPC.

A Court had granted bail to former Delhi BJP Spokesperson and Supreme Court Lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, who was arrested and remanded to two days judicial custody in the matter.

Videos of mob at the gathering shouting slogans openly calling for the killing of Muslims had emerged on Sunday. Lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, who has now been granted bail by the Court, claimed that the slogans were raised after the meeting organized by him was over. He had organized a meeting calling for the repeal of "colonial-era laws".

In a similar matter, Justice Mukta Gupta had also issued notice on the anticipatory bail plea filed by Bhupinder Tomar alias Pinky Chaudhary, prime accused in the matter. However, he was sent to 14 days judicial custody Yesterday by a Delhi Court.

The matter will now be considered on September 15.

Title: Preet Singh v. State