The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to Dalit labour activist Nodeep Kaur on Friday. Haryana Police took Kaur into custody under charges of extortion and attempt to murder.
During the hearing of Kaur’s bail plea, the bench of Justice Avneesh Jhingan granted her bail and took suo-moto cognizance after receiving an email regarding her alleged illegal confinement. Through her lawyers, Kaur told the HC that she was “targeted and falsely implicated” as an accused in the case because she successfully garnered support for the ongoing farmer’s agitation in Delhi against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws.
Kaur claimed that after her arrest, the Haryana police physically assaulted her and inflicted multiple injuries on her when she was in custody and added that her medical examination did not take place. The Haryana Police denied Kaur’s allegation, saying that she did not raise any matter before the Chief Judicial Magistrate. The police told the court that before her arrest, Kaur made provocative speeches saying that they would “attack the police”.
Kaur’s bail hearing was to be held on February 24 but was adjourned to February 26 as the Haryana police failed to produce her medical certificate. Kaur was granted bail on two of the three cases filed against her. Kaur was arrested on January 12 when she was protesting near a factory at Kundli. Nodeep took part in the farmers’ protest at the Singhu border.
