Delhi HC restrains police from circulating allegations, evidence against ‘Pinjra Tod’ member

The Delhi High Court has restrained Delhi Police from circulating information regarding allegations and evidence allegedly collected against ‘Pinjra Tod’ member Devangana Kalita or other accused in FIRs pertaining to the anti-CAA protests and Delhi riots, to any person or media, reports BarandBench.com.

The order was passed by a single Judge Bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru.

Kalita is an accused in as many as four FIRs pertaining to the anti-CAA protests and Delhi riots. She is presently in judicial custody in connection with the FIR registered for the February Jaffrabad anti-CAA sit-in protest.

She was recently granted bail in the Daryaganj FIR which was registered in connection with the December 2019 Anti-CAA protests.

Kalita (petitioner) contended that the Crime Branch of Delhi Police was feeding selective information and the evidence allegedly collected against her in the cases to media.

She claimed that this information, which was being circulated by the Delhi Police in the form of a "Brief Note", was misleading and was likely to prejudice the trial of all accused persons including the petitioner.

It was also stated the such misleading information was likely to place the petitioner and her family members at risk.

While issuing notice in the petition, the Court directed Delhi Police to file its counter affidavit within a period of two weeks.

It further ordered, “The Concerned DCP of the Crime Branch is directed to file a personal affidavit affirming whether any such information as is mentioned in the present petition has been circulated by the officials of the Crime Branch to third persons, journalists or on social media. In the meanwhile, the respondent is restrained from issuing any such statements or circulating information regarding allegations and evidence allegedly collected against the petitioner or other accused, to any person, including to the media or on social media platforms.”

The matter would be heard next on July 9.