Bengaluru, Feb 19 The Karnataka High Court on Monday granted bail to 21 people, jailed in Mangluru for alleged offences committed in the anti-CAA demonstrations, pointing out that police deliberately tried covering up their excesses against the protesters.
Justice Michael Cunha, in his order, said: "A deliberate attempt is underway to cover up police excesses by implicating innocent persons at the whims and caprice of the police. Overzealousness of the police is also evident from the fact that the FIRs are registered under section 307 IPC against the persons killed by the police themselves."
The 21 people were arrested and sent to judicial custody for allegedly transgressing prohibitory orders, obstructing the police from executing their duty and destroying public property.
The arrested people were alleged to have been part of a 2,000 strong mob which attempted to set a police station ablaze and destroy public property.
Police charged group under Sections 307, 143, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code.
Later, the arrested people approached the High Court that they have been falsely implicated in the alleged offences by police without proper evidence.
The court highlighted that that the police have not registered even a single case on the complaints filed by the injured and relatives of the dead persons and thus the petitioners seek their release on bail.
After further deliberating, the court released the petitioners on a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties of similar amount, and directed them to be present in the court when required.
It also directed them not to move out of the territorial limits of the trial court without its permit.
( With inputs from IANS )