Delhi riots accused Shahrukh Pathan gets 15-day interim bail

A Delhi court granted 15-day interim bail to Shahrukh Pathan, an accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots who had pointed gun at a policeman recently.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Court granted bail to Pathan after considering the medical condition of his father.

“Looking into the medical condition of the father of the applicant/accused and the fact that the presence of applicant is necessary for taking care of his ailing father and arranging funds for the family, the court deems it just and appropriate to grant 15 days interim bail to the applicant after furnishing a personal bond of Rs 20,000,” the order read.

While granting bail, the court imposed some conditions on Pathan. The court directed him to provide his number to the investigating officer, always keeping his mobile phone switched on, not to contact any witness or accused persons and give his attendance at the Jafrabad police station every alternate day.

“The period of 15 days will start from the date of his release. The applicant is directed to surrender before the Jail Superintendent concerned on the expiry of period of 15 days,” it added.

Pathan had argued in his plea that his father was admitted to the hospital on March 1 under severe medical condition. It stated that he would be required admission for two-three days and one-two month OTT at home.

He was arrested on March 3, 2020 while he was captured on camera pointing a gun towards a policeman during the riots. The pictures of it went viral on the social media.

The FIR was registered at the Jafrabad police station under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 153¬-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion etc), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant) 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 120¬B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC along with Section 27 (punishment for using arms, etc) of the Arms Act.

The trial court in December 2021 framed charges against Pathan and other accused in the FIR. It had also convicted a man for harbouring Shahrukh Pathan under Section 216 of the IPC after he had voluntarily pleaded guilty to the charge framed against him.