Sadaf Jafar among 12 arrested over protests in UP released on bail

LUCKNOW: A local court granted bail on Saturday to social activist Sadaf Jafar and former IPS officer SR Darapuri, besides 10 others arrested in connection with protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on December 19 in Lucknow.

Additional district judge (ADJ) Sanjay Shankar Pandey granted the 12 bail on sureties of ~50,000 each. They are likely to be released on Monday.

Social activist Pawan Rao Ambedkar is also among those who were granted bail.

The judge had reserved his orders on the bail applications of Jafar, Darapuri and the other accused on Friday, after hearing the individual pleas as well as the submissions of the government lawyer.

On December 23, the chief judicial magistrate had rejected their bail applications, following which the petitioners moved the district court.

“The prosecution could not submit any evidence to prove my client’s involvement in violence. For lack of evidence, the court has granted bail to her (Jafar),” said advocate Harjot Singh, who appeared on behalf of Jafar.

Lawyer Sanjeev Pandey, who appeared on behalf of Darapuri, said: “My client is absolutely innocent. He has been falsely implicated. As there is no proof of his involvement in violence, the court granted him bail.”

Darapuri’s son Ved Kumar said: “The law has taken its own course. We have full faith in the judiciary.” Jafar’s sister Naheed Varma said: “All charges levelled against my sister are fake and our next step will be to get the FIR against her quashed.”

The Hazratganj police had booked Jafar and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1932.