The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (26.08.2020) directed the Delhi Police to submit the case diary pertaining to a North-East Delhi riots case in which a member of Pinjra Tod group, Natasha Narwal was arrested. The Single bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru, while hearing Narwal's bail plea, has allowed the police to submit the case diary in a sealed cover observing the confidentiality of the information at this stage.
Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the Delhi Police, said that the case diary contains sensitive information that cannot be shared with Narwal’s advocate at this stage. The court noted the circumstances and said that a separate web link will be shared with the police’s advocate and the investigating officer (IO) so that they can show the relevant portion of the case diary to the court. The judge further added that nobody else, including Narwal's counsel, will be privy to the proceedings. “We will hear you after having a look at the case diary”, the court said.
The Petitioner's Advocate Adit S Pujari did not object to it. He also submitted that this matter shall be decided expeditiously as Narwal seeks to apply for her Ph.D. program at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Natasha Narwal, who is currently lodged in Tihar prison, was arrested this year on March 23 by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police for allegedly fueling the North-East Delhi communal riots. She has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including rioting, unlawful assembly, and attempt to murder. She has also been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a separate case related to the communal violence, for allegedly being part of a "premeditated conspiracy" in the riots.
The Hon’ble High Court has asked the Delhi Police to file the case diary on August 29 and posted the next hearing on August 31. The court had also suggested that the present matter can be taken up for physical hearing since the High Court has decided to partially open on a rotational basis from September 1.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had issued notice to the Delhi Police on the plea challenging a trial court's order which had dismissed the bail application of JNU student Natasha Narwal.
