The Delhi High Court has given major relief to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, DMK leaders Kanimozhi and A Raja and other leaders in the case related to the protest at Jantar Mantar in February 2025. Delhi High Court has stayed the proceedings of Rouse Avenue Court in this case. This matter is related to the protest organized at Jantar Mantar in February 2025. In which many opposition MPs had demonstrated against the guide lines of the UGC draft. Delhi Police alleges that this demonstration was organized without permission.
Delhi High Court seeks answer from Delhi Police
While hearing the case in Delhi High Court, Justice Anup Jairam Bambani has issued a notice to Delhi Police and sought their reply. The court gave this order while hearing the petition of DMK leader. Delhi High Court has been demanded to cancel the FIR registered in this case. The court has currently stayed the proceedings of Rouse Avenue Court and has asked Delhi Police to file a reply. Now the next hearing of this case will be on August 12.
what is the whole matter
The petition filed in the Delhi High Court states that a protest was organized at Jantar Mantar on 6 February 2025 against the proposed rules of UGC. About 15 MPs from different parties including DMK participated in this demonstration. Delhi Police had registered an FIR in this case under Section 223 (A) of the Indian Justice Code (BNS). The police alleged that the demonstration was carried out without permission. However, the lawyer appearing for the petitioner argued in the court that permission was sought several times for the demonstration and permission was also given verbally. He said that the protest was peaceful and did not cause any law and order problem, hence it was not appropriate to register an FIR in this matter.
The case is pending in Rouse Avenue Court
After the filing of charge sheet, this case is currently pending in Rouse Avenue Court. However, the court has not yet taken cognizance of this. Earlier on March 20, during the hearing in Rouse Avenue Court, a report was filed by the DCP of New Delhi. This report was prepared on the basis of investigation conducted on the instructions of the court. Additional Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal, while taking this document on record, had said that two more weeks are needed for further investigation in the case. After this, the court postponed the hearing for three weeks and fixed the next date as April 14.
Questions raised on Delhi Police investigation also
In this case, the court had also raised questions on the investigation process of Delhi Police. The court had said that out of the 11 people who have been made accused in the charge sheet, 10 were not even given notice to join the investigation. According to the report, only CVMP Ezhilarasan was sent a notice to join the investigation through e-mail on 7 April 2025. The court also said that the investigating officer did not follow the Supreme Court decision and the Delhi Police’s standing orders of 2020.
Explanation sought from Delhi Police officials
Considering the matter as serious, the court directed the SHO and ACP of the concerned police station to clarify how the police report was filed without giving notice to the accused. The court also said that this order should also be brought to the notice of the Delhi Police Commissioner so that departmental action can be taken against the alleged negligence in the investigation. The court said in its order that not conducting a fair and complete investigation by the investigating officer is a serious matter and action should be taken as per the law. Now after hearing the arguments of all the parties on this entire matter, Delhi High Court will hold further hearing on August 12.