New Delhi: A Delhi court Saturday has rejected the bail plea of Sudarshan Vahini President Vinod Sharma, accused of raising provocative slogans against a particular religion at Jantar Mantar. Additional sessions judge Anil Antil observed that even though the accused did not make inflammatory speeches, he was instrumental in organizing the program at Jantar Mantar in early August.
Further, the court said that Vinod Sharma's photo and mobile number were given on the banner of the program and people were appealed to come to the protest. Therefore, it is difficult to say that Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code does not apply to the accused. The court said that the presence of the accused was that of an active participant and not that of the one who watched the program by standing next to it.
During the hearing, advocate Rajat Aneja appearing for Vinod Sharma submitted that the accused had not uttered any inciting words that would create enmity between the two communities. He said that the accused has been falsely implicated.
The Delhi Police opposed the bail plea. Appearing for Delhi Police advocate SK Cain said that the video clearly shows that the accused made provocative speeches and slogans as part of the conspiracy. During this, Hanuman Chalisa was recited so that people's attention could be diverted from the inflammatory speech. The purpose of organizing the program at Jantar Mantar was to create animosity. Even the accused took out the banner with his name and photo and included people.
In this case, the trial court had granted bail to lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay on August 11 last. On August 9, Delhi Police had called Ashwini Upadhyay and the rest of the accused for questioning. After interrogation, all the accused were arrested on August 10.
The Delhi Police had registered an FIR in this case on August 9 after a video of the India Jodo Movement at Jantar Mantar went viral on social media in which objectionable slogans were raised against a particular religion on August 8.
