Haldwani riots: HC directs state to file objections on bail plea of Abdul Malik’s son

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand high court, while hearing bail petitions submitted in the default appeal of Abdul Moeed, son of Abdul Malik, the alleged mastermind behind the Banphoolpura riots in Haldwani, and Javed Siddiqui, instructed the state administration to submit their objections within three weeks pertaining to Moeed's default bail.
The bench comprising Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Vivek Bharti Sharma also accorded the govt a conclusive opportunity to present their objections within a fortnight concerning Siddiqui's default bail.The next hearing for Moeed's case has been scheduled on Oct 26 and for Javed's case on Oct 13.
During the hearing on Tuesday, it was contended on their behalf that the court had previously granted bail to Safia Malik, Abdul's wife, and consequently to 50 other individuals implicated, and they should be released on bail on an analogous basis.
The defence lawyer argued that the police registered charges against them under IPC sections 120B, 417, 420, 467, 468 and 471 without conducting a comprehensive investigation.
"Despite the passage of several months, the police have been unsuccessful in substantiating their culpability. It is obligatory for the police to furnish the investigation report to the court within 90 days of the alleged crime, but they have failed to comply with this requirement in the present case. Consequently, they should be granted bail," the lawyer representing Malik and Siddiqui said.