Protesters hid identities, gave false addresses: Police to court

The Delhi Police have claimed that a group of student protesters, who allegedly raised pro-Naxal slogans, vandalised the Parliament Street police station by damaging printers and throwing files.

These allegations were detailed in a remand note submitted to the court, which also stated that the police had evidence linking the protesters to support for a militant movement in Jharkhand.

Police said all 17 protesters gave incorrect residential addresses and did not present Aadhaar cards. Verification checks by local police found the addresses of three accused — Ravjot, Gurkirat and Shresth Mukund — to be invalid, which investigators argued showed a deliberate attempt to mislead authorities.

The case was heard by Judicial Magistrate Sahil Monga on Thursday. The 17 students were arrested on November 23 for offences registered at Sansad Marg police station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including assault or criminal force to deter a public servant, obstruction of a public servant and conspiracy to commit offences against the State.

Magistrate Monga remanded four students — Gurkirat, Ravjot, Kranti and Abhinash — to two days’ police custody, while the remaining 13 were sent to one day of judicial custody.

Police had sought five days’ custody for five of the accused, saying more time was required to investigate alleged links to Naxals and banned organisations and to probe what they described as a “deep-rooted conspiracy.”

Police further told the court that on November 23 the students gathered at the entrance of the Parliament Street police station, raised “aggressive slogans” against the Central Government, and blocked the gates, obstructing movement. When officers attempted to clear the entrance, a scuffle ensued. Seven police personnel were injured and later medically examined.

Defence lawyers opposed custodial interrogation, arguing that the police had failed to present substantive evidence. They said an inability to verify an address was not a lawful ground to seek police custody.

“What do they want to investigate? The police can conduct their investigation without custody. The accused cannot be remanded merely because the police could not verify their addresses,” the defence counsel submitted.

A total of 23 students, including 11 women, were arrested on November 23 after two FIRs were registered at Kartavya Path and Parliament Street police stations. They were produced before two judicial magistrates at the Patiala House Court on November 24.