U’khand HC grants bail to key accused in Banphoolpura violence

Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court on Thursday granted bail to Abdul Malik, a key accused in the Banphoolpura violence that erupted in Haldwani on Feb 8, 2024. Malik was arrested by Nainital police in Delhi on Feb 23, 2024, and had been in jail since then.The matter was heard by a division bench of Justice Alok Kumar Verma and Justice Alok Mehra, which ordered Malik’s release on bail in cases registered against him in connection with the violence.According to his counsel, advocate Vikas Guglani, “three FIRs had been lodged against Malik in relation to the incident and the court granted bail in all three”. The defence argued that while the original FIR only mentioned Malik’s presence during the riots, the chargesheet later described him as a “key conspirator” who had planned the incident.He added, “We submitted before the court that the police failed to provide substantive evidence to support the allegation of conspiracy. The police had also lodged another FIR against him under IPC section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), in which he had already been granted bail earlier.”The Banphoolpura violence broke out during an anti-encroachment drive in Haldwani, leading to large-scale clashes, arson and stone-pelting. Six people were killed, several injured and significant damage to public and private property was reported, prompting heavy police deployment and multiple cases.