Farmers Protest: Delhi Court grants bail to journalist Mandeep Punia

Two days after the Delhi Police arrested journalist Madeep Punia from a farmers' protest site at Singhu border, a local court in Delhi granted him bail on Tuesday.

The court said the complainant, victims and witnesses in this case were all police personnel and hence there is "no possibility that the accused/applicant can able to influence any of the police officials".

The bail was granted by the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Satvir Singh Lamba.

On Sunday, the Delhi Police arrested Mandeep Punia in an FIR registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty).

While granting bail to Mandeep Punia, the court said it was a well-settled principle of law that "bail is a rule and jail is an exception".

According to new agency PTI, the judge also noted in the order that the alleged scuffle incident of case was of around 6.30 pm, "however, the present FIR was registered at around 1.21 am on the next day".

"Admittedly, the accused is a freelance journalist. Moreso, no recovery is to be



effected from the accused person and keeping the accused further in judicial custody would not serve any cogent purpose," the court said.

The court granted bail to Mandeep Punia on "furnishing bail bond in a sum of Rs 25,000 along with one sound surety in the like amount".

While the court has granted bail to Mandeep Punia, it has imposed certain conditions on him, including that he will not leave the country without its prior permission.

"The accused shall not indulge into similar offence or any other offence in the event of release on bail. Accused shall not tamper with the evidences in any manner," the court said, adding that Mandeep shall join the investigations as and when required by the investigating agency.

In his bail plea, Mandeep Punia told the court that he was innocent and was falsely implicated in the case.

"The offences as alleged in the present FIR are not made out against the accused. The accused is a freelance journalist and was carrying out his duties along with another journalists at the protest site of Singhu Border, Delhi," his lawyer had told the court on Monday.

The Delhi Police had opposed the bail application on the ground that the allegations against Mandeep Punia were "grave and serious in nature".