Premium
This is an archive article published on March 22, 2020

Khureji Khas stir: Former Congress councillor gets bail

Ishrat Jahan and 5 others were arrested by Delhi Police, who claimed that a flag march headed by senior officers tried to clear the roads near the Khureji protest site but Jahan incited the crowd to pelt stones at the policemen.

Khureji Khas stir: Former Congress councillor gets bail A Delhi court granted bail to former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan and three others, who were arrested from an anti-CAA protest site in Northeast Delhi’s Khureji Khas in February. (Representational Image)

A Delhi court granted bail to former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan and three others, who were arrested from an anti-CAA protest site in Northeast Delhi’s Khureji Khas in February.

However, activist Khalid Saifi’s bail application, which was heard by the same court, was dismissed. The court said that in this case, the protest “appears to have become violent” and to control the law and order situation, “police had fired in the air and used tear gas shells.”

Saifi’s lawyer Rebecca John had argued that he was “brutally beaten inside the police station” because of which he sustained fractures to both his legs and injuries to his hand.

However, the court said the allegations against him were serious in nature as “he had instigated the mob to pelt stones at the police party, and his name also emerged in a disclosure statement of co-accused”.

Jahan and five other people were arrested by Delhi Police, who claimed before the court that a flag march headed by senior officers tried to clear the roads near the Khureji protest site but Jahan incited the crowd to pelt stones at the policemen and one person from the crowd also opened fire at the police.

Jahan has been charged under sections of attempt to murder, rioting, among others.

Additional Sessions Judge Manjusha Wadhwa granted bail to Jahan, Mohd Saleem, Sameer Ansari and Vikram Thakur on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000 each with a surety of the like amount. The court also directed them to not participate “even in a peaceful agitation until the pandemic of coronavirus subsides”.

Story continues below this ad

ASJ Wadhwa said that “no overt act has been imputed” to Jahan on allegations that she incited the crowd. The court said that invoking Section 307 against her was debatable since there was no allegation that she used the country-made pistol.

The other three men were granted bail since no overt act has been ascribed to them as well, said the court.

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Advertisement
Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments