Hearing on bail for Haldwani riots accused continues in HC

By Our Staff Reporter
Nainital, 16 Dec: Uttarakhand High Court’s division bench today continued its hearing on the bail applications of the main accused in the Haldwani riots, Abdul Malik, Abdul Moeed, and Javed. The bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Pankaj Purohit have asked the government to present the chargesheet against the accused by 18 December and fixed the next date of hearing in the case on 18 December.
Meanwhile, the government argued that the chargesheet against them already been filed in the Sessions Court and therefore the accused can now approach it for the bail. However, the accused Malik argued that the Sessions Court had already rejected his bail application. In view of this development, it was argued that the High Court should hear his bail plea. The Court then asked the government to file the chargesheet in the court by 18 December and then fixed the next date of hearing on 18 December.
it may be recalled that the case dates back to 8 February 2024, when an administration and police team attempting to remove encroachments in Banbhulpura in Haldwani had faced stone-pelting and arson from encroachers, including the main accused Abdul Malik. The violence resulted in the burning of the police station and several vehicles, with several people losing their lives and over 100 getting injured. The police arrested more than 100 individuals involved in the violence, including Malik, Moeed, and Javed.
The bail application claims that the accused were in Delhi on the day of the incident and have been falsely framed for inciting riots. Noted Congress leader and senior Supreme Court advocate Salman Khurshid argued their bail plea in the High Court today.