Activist Natasha Narwal granted Interim Bail after father dies to COVID-19

Teesha

Delhi Riots accused Natasha Narwal, an activist of Pinjra Tod has been granted three weeks interim bail by the Delhi High Court on 10^th May, 2021 after her father passed away due to COVID-19 in Rohtak. 

The bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup J Bhambani took into consideration that there is no one else in the family to perform the last rites and cremation, as her only sibling has been tested positive for covid and hence he is under treatment and her mother passed away 15 years ago.

Natasha Narwal’s Father’s body is waiting in the hospital to be accepted, pleaded the prosecution.  

Natasha Narwal moved the court for the interim bail with the help of Adit Pujari and the prosecution represented by Amit Mahajan did not oppose the plea. 

Appreciating the state’s take on this, the court commented “In view of the foregoing and interest of justice, we are of the view that the release of applicant is imperative in this hour of grief and personal loss. We accordingly release Natasha Narwal on three weeks interim bail.” 

However, the bail has been granted on certain conditions and directives, such as: the release will be subject to furnishing of a personal bond of Rs. 50,000 to the satisfaction of the Jail Superintendent.

Court directed her to provide her telephone number to the Station House Officer, PS Crime Branch, Special Cell, Delhi Police. 

Further, the court ordered that the telephone number so provided should be kept operational

Natasha was also directed to maintain “radio silence” in regards to the judicial proceedings of the ongoing matter and warned her not to post anything on her social media account about the same.

Court further directed that Narwal should wear a PPE kit at the time of the cremation.

Natasha was booked under the provisions of UAPA, alleging that the anti-CAA riots organised by her hampered communal harmony.

In January 2021, the local Court in Delhi dismissed her bail plea observing the allegations made were prima facie true and UAPA was rightly invoked. In April the High Court reserved its judgement in her bail plea.