Republic Day Violence: Man Accused Of Hoisting Religious Flag At Red Fort Granted Interim Protection From Arrest

A Delhi Court has granted interim protection from arrest till July 20 to Jugraj Singh, accused in connection with the Republic Day violence case, who had allegedly climbed one of the flagpoles on the Rampart at the Red Fort, a restricted area of the protected site and hoisted Nishan Sahib flag.

Additional Sessions Judge Neelofer Abida Perveen granted the interim protection subject to the condition that Singh shall join the investigation in the two FIRs registered against him in relation to the Republic day violence.

"The IO shall intimate the dates on which his presence shall be required besides the ones mentioned in the present order by written notice affording him reasonable opportunity to travel from hometown to Delhi in the prevailing pandemic situation of restricted movements and lockdowns announced by respective State Governments. For report and consideration, put up on 20.7.2021." the Court ordered.

It was submitted on behalf of Singh that he had not destroyed the public property nor insulted the National flag in any manner. It was also argued that Singh was implicated only on the basis of identification by co-accused which is not admissible in law.

An FIR was registered 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.

The Second FIR has was registered on the basis of a complaint made by Gunjan Kumar Srivastava, Superintendent Archaeologist alleging that a mob barged inside the Lahore Gate, damaged electrical fittings of illuminated lights, charged towards the Red Fort rampart and forcefully hoisted a flag on the pole where the Hon'ble PM hoists Indian National Flag on independence day.

Deep Sidhu, who had alleged to be the primary conspirator in the case, was granted bail by the Court recently in both the FIRs.

Additionally, a Sessions Judge at Tis Hazari Court granted interim protection from arrest to "Gangster turned activist" Lakha Sidhana in FIR 96 of 2021 while dealing with his anticipatory bail application.

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