Delhi HC Grants Bail To Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Asif Iqbal Tanha; Says 'Every Criminal Is Not A Terrorist' On UAPA Charge

The Delhi High Court on June 15 granted bail to student activists Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal & Asif Iqbal Tanha. The court, in three separate orders, called into question the chargesheet filed by Delhi Police in the alleged conspiracy case of Northeast Delhi riots. The court said that the allegations against them are based on “stretched inferences” & “alarming & hyperbolic verbiage”. The court said the phrase ‘terrorist act’ cannot be permitted to be casually applied to criminal acts that fall squarely within the definition of conventional offences. Relying on the Hitendra Vishnu Thakur judgment of the Supreme Court, the court reiterated, "Every 'Terrorist' May Be A Criminal But Every Criminal Cannot Be Given The Label Of A 'Terrorist’. A bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Anup Jairam Bhanbhani said the word ‘terrorism’ or ‘terror’ has nowhere been defined in the UAPA. In reference to the allegation of causing chakkajams & making inflammatory speeches, the court said that the peaceful & nonviolent protests against governmental & parliamentary actions are legitimate. Watch the video to know more.