A Delhi court has granted interim bail of 45 days to a local politician, Ashu Khan, arrested for allegedly rioting and instigating a mob during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act on December 15 last year which resulted in damage to public property and injuries to police near Jamia Millia Islamia University.
Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Garg granted the interim relief to Khan in two cases related to violent protests at Jamia Nagar and New Friends Colony area, on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 2 lakh.
The court took note of the decision of the High Powered Committee that undertrial prisoners involved in offences punishable up to 10 years imprisonment be granted interim bail to decongest overcrowded prisons due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"The court is of the considered view that it is cardinal principle of criminal jurisprudence that an accused is presumed to be innocent till his guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt. Admittedly no custodial interrogation of the accused Ashu Khan is required," the court said. It directed him not to tamper with evidence or leave the country without its permission.