A Delhi Court on Saturday granted bail to Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu in the case relating to the violence that took place at Red Fort on January 26 during the farmers’ tractor rally against the Centre’s three farm laws.
Additional Sessions Judge Neelofer Abida Perveen granted bail to Sidhu and directed him to furnish a bail bond of Rs. 30,000 and two sureties of like amount.
“The accused-applicant as per the own case of the prosecution is a well known public figure with deep roots in society and such apprehensions are capable of being allayed by imposing stricter conditions,”
-the court said.
“Investigation is in progress and the identity of the other offenders is in the process of being established derived largely from scrutiny and scanning of video footage available on social media platforms and CCTV recordings and for the purposes the investigating agency has already availed of 14 days police custody of the accused,”
-the court said.
The Court has also directed Sidhu to not influence, threaten, intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence in any manner whatsoever.
Earlier on Monday, a Delhi court reserved its order on the bail application of Deep Sidhu.
Sidhu was arrested on February 9 under Sections 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act and Section 3 of the Prevention of Destruction of Public Property Act in connection with the Republic Day tractor rally violence.
As per the prosecution, Sidhu was the main conspirator behind the Republic Day violence at Red Fort. Refering to the series of interviews given by Sidhu, the prosecution said that his intention was to create violence and disregard the national flag. Seeking bail in the matter, Sidhu argued that his implication was a classic case of trial by media and that he was just a peaceful protestor exercising his fundamental right.
Also Read: Delhi HC allows service of notice, Summons, documents through Email, WhatsApp and Fax amid COVID
As per Sidhu, he was not even present at the Red Fort when the violence took place. He maintained that he had not called for any tractor rally and that there was nothing on record to show that he indulged in violence or instigated it. Sidhu also denied the prosecution’s allegation that he instigated Jugraj Singh to hoist the Nishan Sahib flag at Red Fort.
Sidhu argued that he did not even know Jugraj Singh and that whether hoisting of the Nishan Sahib flag was a criminal offence was itself a matter of debate. Sidhu also said that chanting religious slogans was not a criminal offence, and did not incite violence.