Delhi Court on Saturday granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, who was arrested in connection with the riots that broke out in north-east Delhi in February this year.
However, she will continue to stay in jail in connection with another case in which she was booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for allegedly conspiring to orchestrate riots.
Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat granted bail to Fatima and asked her to furnish a personal bond of Rs 30,000 with one surety of the like amount.
The court directed her not to leave the jurisdiction of Delhi without prior permission of the court, or indulge in any kind of criminal activity. The court also told her not to tamper with any evidence or contact any witness, and be present on every date of hearing as directed by the court.
Gulfisha’s counsel, advocate Mehmood Pracha told the court that his client has been falsely and maliciously implicated. He said that no role has been attributed to Gulfisha except vague and unsubstantiated allegations which have no link with the alleged crime.
According to the police FIR, Fatima had instigated an unlawful assembly which then indulged in riots in the Jafrabad area, which led to the death of one person named Amaan who died of gunshot injuries.
The Court observed that the accused Gulfisha was in custody since 03.06.2020 and that “the co-accused Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal have already been granted bail in the case and their role is stated to be similar to the present applicant/accused.”
Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, were granted bail earlier and their role is stated to be similar to Fatima, the court noted.
Gulfisha was arrested on June 3 and is currently lodged in the Tihar jail. While Kalita was granted bail by the Delhi high court on September 1, Narwal was granted bail on September 17.
At least 53 people lost their lives and hundreds of others were injured in the violence which took place in the northeast area of Delhi in February this year.
