Deep Sidhu case: Lawyers say actor being made a scapegoat by police

A Delhi court on Thursday was told by Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu’s lawyers that the actor is in custody for “no reason” and is being made a “scapegoat” in the Republic Day Red Fort violence case.

The arguments were being addressed while the matter was heard by Link Judge Satish Kumar.

Sidhu’s lawyers Abhishek Gupta and Jasdeep Dhillon argued that Sidhu being a known face is being made a scapegoat and is behind bars for last 52 days for no reason.

“There was no violence on his urging. We have videos showing that he was helping the police and asking people to stop climbing the walls.”

“FIR says people broke the gates and climbed the rampart at 12:30. He reached there after 2 pm,” he argued.

The matter has now been slated for hearing before the concerned court i.e. ASJ Neelofer Abida Perveen on April 8. The link judge has also asked the police to file its reply before the next date of hearing.

The matter was yesterday sent to ASJ Charu Aggarwal, however, since a new roster comes into play from April 1, the matter got transferred to ASJ Perveen. Since ASJ Perveen was on leave today, the matter was heard by her link judge ASJ Satish Kumar.

Sidhu was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on February 9 for his alleged involvement in the Red Fort violence on January 26. Currently, he is undergoing judicial custody in the matter.

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An FIR was registered against Deep Sidhu 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. Sidhu has been accused of instigating violence as being the alleged “main instigator” in the case.