उत्तराखण्ड
.Supreme Court Cancels Default Bail of Two Key Accused in Haldwani Riots Case, Orders Surrender in Two Weeks
Incident Background
On February 8, 2024, a violent mob in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura area allegedly opened fire, pelted stones, hurled petrol bombs, torched police vehicles, and trapped female constables inside a police station before setting it ablaze. Three FIRs were registered under various IPC sections, Sections 15 and 16 of the UAPA, and Sections 3/4/7/25 of the Arms Act.
Supreme Court Observations
The Court criticized the High Court for erroneous remarks on the investigation and factual inaccuracies about witness statements. It noted the probe proceeded expeditiously despite challenges from the crime’s scale and numerous accused/witnesses. The accused lost default bail rights due to delayed challenge to time extensions. They must surrender in trial court within two weeks, or face strict custody measures.
Boost for State Prosecution
The State was represented by Dy. Advocate General Jatinder Kumar Sethi and Standing Counsel Ashutosh Kumar Sharma, while Senior Advocate Siddharth Agarwal appeared for the accused. Uttarakhand hails this as a major win, as the riots targeted police during an anti-encroachment drive. The verdict boosts police morale with praise for swift investigation from the nation’s top court.
