Delhi court seeks status report from Delhi Police on search at lawyer Mehmood Pracha’s office

A Delhi Court on Friday sought a status report from Delhi police in relation to the search conducted by it at the office premises of advocate Mehmood Pracha, a lawyer representing some of the accused in the north-east Delhi riots cases.

The court has also asked the investigating officer of the case to be present in the next hearing on December 27 and produce the entire video footage of the search.

The order of Duty MM Anshul Singhal, Patiala House Court came on an application moved by advocate Mehmood Pracha seeking preservation of copies of the video footage of the raid conducted by Delhi police at his office on Thursday.

Advocate Mehmood Pracha, one of the lawyers representing several victims and accused in the Delhi riots cases, including UAPA accused Gulfisha Fatima, moved Patiala House Court after his office was raided by Delhi Police special cell for 15-hours straight on 24 and 25 December.

Pracha contended that the Special Cell officials did not only breach the attorney-client privilege by taking away the entire data from the computers in his office but also violated the court order which specifically ordered the police to produce “forthwith” any evidence, if found, before the court. He stated that he has moved an application under sections 165(5) and 156(3) of the CrPC before the trial court.

He also told the court that he was threatened by the investigating officer and one Mr Rajiv that they will file a false case against him.

The Court while admitting his application seeks the status report by January 5 and directed the IO of the case — pertaining to which the search was conducted on Thursday — to remain present before it on December 27, the next date of hearing, along with the entire video footage of any search conducted by him of Pracha”s office premises.

Advocate Pracha has been representing various accused and complainants in the violence in north-east Delhi.

Clashes had broken out between supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act and those opposing it between February 23 and 26 in North East Delhi, killing 53 people and injuring hundreds. The Delhi Police were accused of either inaction or complicity in some instances of violence. The police have arrested several activists and students based on these “conspiracy” charges.

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