New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) – A Delhi court has granted bail to Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow, London, in connection with the alleged attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March 2023.
The case stems from an incident on March 19, 2023, followed by an agitation on March 22, 2023, in which Gaba allegedly participated. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) claims the two events were orchestrated as part of a larger effort to influence the crackdown on the pro-Khalistan group "Waris Punjab De" and its leader Amritpal Singh.
However, Principal District and Sessions Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav, in an order issued on January 29, noted that Gaba’s involvement seemed to be limited to the March 22 protest, and no direct link to the March 19 incident could be established. The NIA, while associating both events with the same group of individuals, was unable to provide sufficient evidence tying Gaba to the earlier incident.
The court highlighted that Gaba was neither present at the site of the March 19 attack nor played any role in organizing the demonstration. Furthermore, it stated that the NIA failed to demonstrate any conspiracy involving Gaba regarding either protest.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, which included an accusation of insulting national honor, the court acknowledged that Gaba’s actions, if true, did not warrant extreme punishments like life imprisonment or the death penalty. The judge also pointed out that Gaba had a clean record and no evidence of violence had been linked to him.
The court emphasized that while insults to national honor were a serious matter, Gaba was not accused of any violent acts during the incidents. Additionally, the judge noted that the trial, which had yet to begin, could take a long time to conclude, questioning whether it was justifiable to keep Gaba in custody under these circumstances.
One key piece of evidence presented by the NIA was a photograph showing Gaba allegedly posing with an AK47 rifle. The NIA argued that the image suggested a propensity for violence. However, the court dismissed this argument, stating that the photograph alone, found in Gaba's cellphone gallery, did not conclusively prove that the rifle was real or even an actual AK47. The judge also pointed out that in the age of deepfake technology and photoshopped images, it was difficult to determine the authenticity of such photos.
Gaba, who was detained by immigration authorities at the Attari border on December 9, 2023, while traveling from London via Pakistan, was later arrested on April 25, 2024, under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case stems from an incident on March 19, 2023, followed by an agitation on March 22, 2023, in which Gaba allegedly participated. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) claims the two events were orchestrated as part of a larger effort to influence the crackdown on the pro-Khalistan group "Waris Punjab De" and its leader Amritpal Singh.
However, Principal District and Sessions Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav, in an order issued on January 29, noted that Gaba’s involvement seemed to be limited to the March 22 protest, and no direct link to the March 19 incident could be established. The NIA, while associating both events with the same group of individuals, was unable to provide sufficient evidence tying Gaba to the earlier incident.
The court highlighted that Gaba was neither present at the site of the March 19 attack nor played any role in organizing the demonstration. Furthermore, it stated that the NIA failed to demonstrate any conspiracy involving Gaba regarding either protest.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, which included an accusation of insulting national honor, the court acknowledged that Gaba’s actions, if true, did not warrant extreme punishments like life imprisonment or the death penalty. The judge also pointed out that Gaba had a clean record and no evidence of violence had been linked to him.
The court emphasized that while insults to national honor were a serious matter, Gaba was not accused of any violent acts during the incidents. Additionally, the judge noted that the trial, which had yet to begin, could take a long time to conclude, questioning whether it was justifiable to keep Gaba in custody under these circumstances.
One key piece of evidence presented by the NIA was a photograph showing Gaba allegedly posing with an AK47 rifle. The NIA argued that the image suggested a propensity for violence. However, the court dismissed this argument, stating that the photograph alone, found in Gaba's cellphone gallery, did not conclusively prove that the rifle was real or even an actual AK47. The judge also pointed out that in the age of deepfake technology and photoshopped images, it was difficult to determine the authenticity of such photos.
Gaba, who was detained by immigration authorities at the Attari border on December 9, 2023, while traveling from London via Pakistan, was later arrested on April 25, 2024, under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
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