Red Fort Violence: Delhi Court Grants Interim Protection From Arrest To Lakha Sidhana In Another FIR Alleging Road Blockade, Destroying Barricades

A Delhi Court on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to  Lakha Sidhana, for a period of two weeks in connection with another FIR filed by Delhi Police for blocking roads and destroying barricades in connection with the Red fort violence.

A sessions judge of the Rohini Court granted interim relief to Sidhana and directed him to join the investigation in FIR 39 of 2021.

Coming as a second relief to Sidhana, a Delhi Court had last week granted him similar protection from arrest till July 3 in FIR 96 of 2021.

Sidhana is wanted by the Delhi Police in connection with his alleged role in the Republic Day violence case. The Delhi Police had earlier announced Rs 1 lakh as reward for information on Sidhana's whereabouts.

FIR 39 of 2021 was registered by the Crime Branch alleging that the protestors disregarded the requests and lawful directions of the Police on the Republic Day and had allegedly, with common intention of moving towards Outer Ring Road, obstructed the police officials in the discharge of their official duties.

"The protestors started rioting causing injuries with swords and lathis and running over of the Tractors over the police officials with intent to kill." The FIR reads.

Furthermore, it has been alleged thus:

"They also started hiting policemen deployed with stones, lathis and swords and also started ramming their tractors into the barricades and blockades. The barricades and blockades including DTC Buses and barricades of concrete were pushed aside by tractors. Police tried to intervene and stop them. Water Cannon was used to disperse the protestors, Tear Gas shells were fired. The mob started throwing back the tear gas shells towards the deployed police force. Gradually the crowd of the protestors swelled. The protestors damaged the DTC Buses and Water Cannon. Cane charge was done but the protestors outnumbered the deployed police force.There were conscious efforts on the part of the police to prevent any loss of life."

The aforesaid FIR has been registered under sec. 147, 148, 149, 152, 186, 188, 269, 353, 332, 307, 395, 397, 120B and 34 of the IPC along with sec. 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta along with Advocates Jasdeep S Dhillon, Vir Sandhu, Jaspreet Rai and APS Mander appeared on behalf of Lakha Sidhana before the Delhi Court.