“Is Jama Masjid in Pak?” Court asks cops during Azad bail plea hearing

A Tis Hazari court judge on Tuesday (January 14) slammed the Delhi police for the arrest of Bhim Army chief Chandrasekhar Azad during an anti-CAA protest.

While hearing Azad’s bail plea, the judge asked the public prosecutor, “Who says you cannot protest have you read the constitution?”

“You are behaving as if Jama Masjid is Pakistan. Even if it was Pakistan, you can go there and protest. Pakistan was a part of undivided India. Which law mentions that there is a prohibition on protest in front of any religious place,” said judge Lau.

The prosecutor, appearing for Delhi police, opposed Azad’s bail plea saying he had called for protests and dharna near Jama Masjid on December 20 to oppose CAA.

When the prosecutor argued that the protest happened without the permission, the judge asked, “what permission, the SC has repeatedly said that the imposition of section 144 is an abuse of power.”

The judge also criticised the prosecutor for making allegations against Azad without proper evidence. The prosecuted argued that they had drone footage of Azad giving a provocative speech.

Denying all the allegations, Mahmood Parcha, Azad’s lawyer, said that he was only reading the Constitution and voicing his opinion against CAA outside Jama Masjid.

The Bhim Azad chief was sent to judicial custody on December 21 for protesting against Citizenship Amendment Act.

(With inputs from agencies)