On Tuesday, the Delhi Police in a status report submitted before the Delhi High Court that Pinjra Tod activist Devangana Kalita, who is facing a probe into her alleged role in the northeast Delhi riots had started a media campaign to gain public sympathy in an attempt to malign the ongoing investigation by peddling a false narrative of political vendetta. These submissions were made in a response to Kalita’s plea against the cops for allegedly making selective leaks leading to the media trial.
The Delhi police further submitted in their status report that it was Kalita, who had started a media campaign/trial in her favor to gain public sympathy and to influence and generate public opinion in her favor. “The brief note of 2 June needed to be seen in this context which was in furtherance of the right of the citizen to know about the affairs of the society and the right of the journalist to ensure an informed society” added the Police in its status report.
Also, while highlighting the twitter handles of Pinjra tod wherein she was continuously propagating about the police brutality and the state sponsor subjugation, the Delhi police held that they have enough evidence against Kalita to prove her involvement to stir up the riot.
Pinjra Tod activist Devangana Kalita who was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the Delhi Riots under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, has recently moved to Delhi High Court to stop Delhi Police from circulating certain documents against her on Social media.
“It became necessary and compelling for the investigating agency to inform the public at large that the narrative peddled by the petitioner and its affiliate groups that a particular community and its supporters, including the petitioner was being victimized, maliciously prosecuted and oppressed by state machinery and that there was large-scale persecution of such community, was false and fabricated,” mentioned the police to the HC. “It is an attempt to malign and impede the ongoing crucial investigation against her by peddling a false narrative of political vendetta, the state-sponsored pogrom, persecution, victimization, malicious prosecution, and state subjugation,” it added.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court issued notice to the Delhi Police and restricted them from circulating any news, evidence, information, statements against the Kalita, and other accused who were booked under UAPA act in the public domain or any social media.
(This news has been written and submitted by Mr. Sourav during his course of internship at B&B Associates LLP. Mr. Sourav is a third year law-student at Hidayatullah National Law University, Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh.)
