The Delhi High Court granted interim protection to Zafarul Islam Khan, the Chief of Delhi Minorities Commission. It is to protect him against any coercive action. The Single Bench consisting of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri held that no coercive action should be taken against the Chief till the next date of hearing. Advocate Vrinda Grover moved the petition. The petition urged the grant of anticipatory bail. Adding to it, the plea sought relief in the form of protection against arrest and coercive action, further calling it a frivolous, motivated, and an untenable case.
Contentions by the Petitioner
The Police lodged an FIR against Mr Khan, charging him under Section 124A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code. Petitioner argued that the allegations in the FIR stand devoid of merits. The petitioner contended that the facts stated are distorted; while calling the matter a gross abuse of the process of law. Moreover, he cited several incidents of hate speech and attacks against the Muslim community. Such as accusing them of spreading COVID-19 and spreading fabricated and fake news about them. The petitioner added that the complainants filed the case with a malafide and obtuse motive; through social media merely to attract publicity. Thereafter, petitioner sought anticipatory bail and interim relief from the court.
