Shaheen Bagh firing part of larger conspiracy, police tell court

Feb 4, 2020
New Delhi: The Delhi Police’s Crime Branch on Tuesday said that the shots fired in the air by a youth near the protest site at Shaheen Bagh is part of a larger conspiracy, adding that the matter is sensitive keeping in mind the law and order situation in the national capital.

Kapil, who belongs to east Delhi’s Dallupura area, fired three bullets in the air after warning protesters to vacate the spot, on February 1. He also shouted communal slogans.

He was arrested and subsequently sent to two days police custody on February 2 and produced before the court at the end of his remand period.

Seeking extension of his police custody for four more days, the crime branch told Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur: “Time and place of the incident clearly indicate that the incident of using firearm is a part of a larger conspiracy which is to be unearthed.”

The court, however, only extended the police custody of the accused for two days.

The matter was earlier transferred to the Special Investigating Team (SIT) from the local police to “unearth the name of identity of conspirator and unscrupulous persons and all those who hatched the conspiracy”.

The SIT on Tuesday told the court that they have seized the mobile phone and motorcycle of the accused which was used by him to reach the scene of crime.

“On checking his phone, it was learnt that WhatsApp account of the accused was purposely deleted. The account has been retrieved and most of data and files of WhatsApp has also been recovered,” it stated in the remand copy.

The CCTV footage and Call Data Record (CDR) of his mobile phone is also being scrutinised, police said.

“He is being interrogated to know the motive of firing. He is changing his versions and not cooperating with the agency,” they said.

Mobile phone of his friend, Sarthak Larolia, who accompanied him to the scene of crime has also been seized and data is recovered.

The Crime Branch is also trying to ascertain the identity of firearm. “The accused has yet not disclosed his complete details so far and is misguiding the investigation,” the SIT said. IANS