Teesha –
The Court on 7th June, 2021 turned down the plea of Delhi Police to produce JNU students Umar Khalid and activist Khalid Saifi in handcuffs before the Trial Courts, noting that, “They are not gangsters.”
The plea was presented for hearing before Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav. It sought to produce the 2020 Delhi Riots accused in “handcuffs in both hands from back side.”, contending that they are “high –risk prisoners.”
The Judge dismissed the plea observing that it’s devoid of merits and has been filed without application of mind by the Delhi Police authorities.
Further the Judge mentioned that the plea is not even required in present situation as the accused are not being presented in the court physically due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The order read that, “The accused persons, who are sought to be produced in fetters and handcuffs, are admittedly not previous convicts. They are not even gangsters.”
In a reply, the DCP told the court that in the aftermath of an attempt made by armed assailants to free an under trial prisoner at GTB Hospital, the police decided to request the court for permission to handcuff high-risk prisoners who are prone to escape.