Congress leader Sadaf Jafar and former IPS officer SR Darapuri, besides 10 others, arrested in December in connection with protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Lucknow, were granted bail by a court here on Saturday.
Additional District Judge SS Pandey had reserved his order on the bail applications of Jafar, Darapuri and other accused on Friday after hearing their individual pleas as well as the submissions of the government lawyer. He gave his verdict on Saturday, providing much relief to these people who were behind the bar since a fortnight.
The court, while granting the bail, asked the accused to furnish two bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each and personal bonds of an equal amount.
The protests against the CAA had turned violent in Lucknow on December 19 when during a demonstration against the amended citizenship law, the protesters pelted stones and torched vehicles parked outside a police post.
Over 200 people were detained following the clashes between the anti-CAA protesters and security forces in Lucknow. Those arrested included Sadaf Jafar, a UP-based Congress worker and social activist.
Jafar was arrested from the protest site at Parivartan Chowk on the evening of December 19 when she was streaming the demonstrations live. An FIR was registered against 34 people, including Jafar, at Hazratganj police station.
Several leaders in the opposition had come out in support of Sadaf Jafar and Darapuri and demanded their release.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had visited Darapuri’s family on December 28 and met the family of Sadaf Jafar in Lucknow the next day.