Shahrukh Pathan, who pointed gun at cop during riots, seeks bail: ‘Probe a sham’

Sharukh Pathan moved a Delhi court for bail in connection with the murder of a man called Vinod Kumar on February 24, during the riots.

The man who was photographed pointing a gun at a Delhi Police head constable during the Northeast Delhi riots in 2019 has applied for bail in a murder case on Monday. (File photo)

The man who was photographed pointing a gun at a Delhi Police head constable during the Northeast Delhi riots in 2019 has applied for bail in a murder case on Monday, claiming that the investigation was a “sham” and was done to “instil fear in Muslims”.

Sharukh Pathan moved a Delhi court for bail in connection with the murder of a man called Vinod Kumar on February 24, during the riots.

Pathan’s advocate, Khalid Akhtar, told the court that the police, instead of investigating Kumar’s murder, investigated the injuries received by three men, including two police officers.

“That it is pertinent to mention that the investigation in this present case was rather a fishing investigation as the FIR was lodged to investigate a completely different case and it has filed a chargesheet in a very different case,” the bail plea read.

Pathan is also accused in the case related to pointing a gun at head constable Deepak Dahiya. He was arrested on March 3, 2020, and is currently lodged in the Tihar Jail.

“Investigating officers has surreptitiously investigated a different case so that the malicious prosecution would not get frustrated by delay in lodging FIR/complaint,” advocate Akhtar told the court.

Pathan’s lawyer argued that the investigation in the present case was carried out without any witness complaints. He argued that the police had “planted victims, witnesses, evidence, testimonials merely to persecute and create a sense of fear in the hearts and minds of the minorities to not raise their voices against unconstitutional enactments.”

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His lawyer told the court that the entire investigation was a “sham merely to harass the accused persons and to instil fear among Muslims, in order to deter them from raising their voices against arbitrary and unconstitutional enactment of CAA and NRC”.

“That these erring officials in connivance with political forces have conducted biased investigations and made indiscriminate arrests to suit their narrative to the extent of misleading the court, by making deliberate false and exaggerated statements knowing and believing full well that such statements could be detrimental to fundamental rights of such persons in the court of law,” his plea stated.

Anand Mohan J

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

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