Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), October 10: A local Lucknow court presided by Additional District and Sessions Judge has rejected the bail cancellation application of Sadaf Jafar, sometime back. Sadaf, a known social activist was accused of allegedly provoking persons under the garb of Anti-CAA protests, by the Uttar Pradesh Government.

The demand for cancellation of bail was based on the premise that she took part in further protests against CAA and NRC, that too on January 17 and January 24 of 2020, soon after her bail on January 4. As per UP Government, she encouraged and provoked other protestors during these protests as well. Also against these protests, two cases were registered but they were against unknown persons.

The prosecution said Sadaf was granted bail subject to conditions including that she would not indulge in criminal activity following her bail and her participation in the protests violated this condition.

Sadaf’s counsel said that she is a known activist and social worker, who fights for women’s rights and is a law-abiding citizen, even in the original matter she was made an accused just to harass her because she openly speaks against unjust policies of the present Government.

While speaking to reporters he shared Sadaf’s plight when she was in jail. Even Sadaf revealed shocking details of police brutality after her arrest during the anti-CAA stir. Jafar has alleged thrashing by male police officers in custody, and being called a “Pakistani”.

Sadaf says, "I was brutally beaten up in police custody at the Mahila police station. Even the male cops beat me up. Male police officers kicked me in the stomach and called me Pakistani. They pulled my hair brutally."

She also added, "Even my family was not informed about my arrest."

Recalling her arrest, Sadaf said, "On December 19 when the violence took place in Lucknow, I was exposing the inaction of the police through a Facebook Live video. We were peacefully protesting against the CAA which is unconstitutional but the police arrested innocent people including me."

She said that people who came to ask about her after the arrest were detained at the Hazratganj police station.

In the court, Sadaf’s counsel stressed that the present application is filed with an intention to again harass Sadaf resulting in suppression of her voice. The cases registered earlier were against unknown persons, therefore, Sadaf’s name being dragged into this is to just create a criminal background against her. 

Launching an attack on the ruling BJP party, Sadaf Jafar had earlier said, "This government is inhumane. It is trying to create a divide between Hindu and Muslims. UP CM used the word revenge. Is this a kind of language CM of a state should use? The violence was staged by the government. Hundreds of innocents have been framed." And Sadaf added empathetically, “I will continue to fight against the CAA."

Former IPS officer SR Darapuri who was arrested for posting his comments against NRC / CAA, and was given bail only after a lot of groundswell against his illegal arrest, said “Sadaf was beaten up in front of SSP Lucknow. Most of the people I met in jail had swellings on their body and they couldn't walk properly because the police brutally thrashed them. The RSS and BJP are responsible for the violence. Our voice cannot be muzzled, we will continue to protest against the CAA."

Sadaf’s counsel also further stressed in the court that as per the FIRs in January 17 and 24, no offense occurred during the protests and they were completely peaceful. Sadaf was not named in the original FIRs as well and she had not violated any bail order by participating. Various High Court rulings were also referred which showed that only by registering a case, bail conditions are not violated whereas, investigation is still pending.

According to the court, around two years later revisiting these cases and under the circumstances, prosecution’s bail cancellation application was not acceptable and thereby rejected the same.

Earlier, posting a tweet after Sadaf’s release, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said "BJP has shown its real ideology by arresting innocents and those taking forward Ambedkar's ideology. The police failed to provide any evidence in the court. Lies can never win."