Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court on Tuesday deferred the bail plea of journalist Satyam Verma in one of the 11 criminal cases registered against him in connection with the Noida workers’ protest in April, after the state sought an opportunity to file its objections to his bail plea on the ground of parity.
A bench of Justice Krishan Pahal was hearing Verma’s bail plea in a case registered at Phase-2 police station in Gautam Budh Nagar. The FIR invokes several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 7 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act and Sections 3/4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. He had been in jail since April 14. Verma, who is also the editor of Mazdoor Bigul Dasta, was arrested in Lucknow on April 17 in connection with cases arising from the workers’ protest. He was subsequently booked separately under the NSA on May 13 along with student activist Akriti Chaudhary. Incidents including vehicle burning, trespassing and stone-pelting were reported at some places on April 13, following which police lathicharged workers and detained hundreds of workers and seven activists, according to media reports.
In that order, the court noted that the FIR had been lodged against a mob and Shiv Kumar was not named in it. The Uttar Pradesh Police has alleged that Verma played an important role in the violence, arson and spread of disorder during the workers’ protest and attempted to disrupt public order by allegedly provoking people in various areas.
Counsel for Verma submitted that he should be given relief on parity with a co-accused who was granted bail in the same case on June 23. However, after the state counsel sought an opportunity to oppose the bail plea on the ground of parity, the court posted the matter for consideration of the state’s objections on Sept 23. However, Verma is not expected to walk out of jail even if he secures bail in the present case, as he remains in custody in connection with other criminal cases. He has also been separately detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).