3-week bail to jailed activist Natasha Narwal whose father passed away due to Covid

Natasha was arrested in May last year for allegedly being part of a premeditated conspiracy in the northeast Delhi riots in February

The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed a plea by 'Pinjra Tod' activist Natasha Narwal for interim bail in "hours of grief" after her father passed away on Sunday evening due to Covid-19.

A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup Jairam Bhambani granted her relief for three weeks on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000.

Delhi police did not oppose her plea for bail as her counsel informed the court that her father Mahavir Narwal died of Covid-19 on Sunday evening at a Rohtak hospital and her brother was also positive of the infectious disease.

"We are of the view that release of the applicant is imperative in this hour of grief and personal loss," the bench asking her to maintain "radio silence" on social media and other platforms on pending matter or it would cancel the bail.

The court directed Natasha to provide her telephone number to the Special Cell of Delhi Police and to concerned SHO, to keep the phone number operational.

The court also asked her to wear a PPE kit at the time of the cremation and should undergo RTPCR test at the time of surrender.

Natasha was arrested on May 23, last year in a case of larger conspiracy, relating to northeast Delhi riots, registered under stringent provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

She was named an accused by the Delhi Police in three FIRs. Her father was a retired senior scientist from CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, and a senior member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

'Pinjra Tod' (Break the shackle) is a collective of women students and alumni of Delhi fighting for easing restrictions.