Safoora Zargar denied bail as judge finds 'no merit' in plea

The Patiala House Court in Delhi dismissed Thursday the bail plea filed by Jamia Millia Islamia scholar Safoora Zargar, saying it found "no merits" in her application.

Zargar, was arrested by Delhi Police's Special Cell after being accused of hatching a conspiracy to incite communal riots in the national capital's north-east area in February earlier this year.

Additional Sessions Judge at the Patiala House Court, Dharmendra Rana, while dismissing the plea filed by Zargar, said, "I do not find merits in the bail application, it is accordingly dismissed."

The court, however, directed the jail officials to provide adequate medical aid and assistance to Zargar, who is pregnant.

Opposing her bail application, the Special Cell submitted before the court that Zargar, also the media coordinator of the Jamia Coordination Committee, had allegedly made inflammatory speeches and was part of a conspiracy to instigate communal violence, which had been planned weeks ago.

The police told the court that the accused persons were part of the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in various parts of the national capital.

"In mid February, the accused had allegedly planned to hold protests in various parts of northeast Delhi. They had also blocked road near the Jafrabad Metro station," the police said.

The case relates to organising anti-CAA protests in the Jaffrabad area, where majority of the participants were women.

Later, violence broke out between pro and anti-CCA protesters in February, which left at least 53 people dead, including IB official Ankit Sharma and Head Constable Rattan Lal..