CAA: Congress Activist Sadaf Jafar, Former IPS Officer Darapuri Released From Jail

They were arrested allegedly in connection with violence during a CAA protest, but the police did not submit any evidence in court.

Lucknow: Congress spokesperson Sadaf Jafar and former IPS officer S.R. Darapuri, arrested in connection with violence during anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests in the Uttar Pradesh capital last month, were released from jail on Tuesday.

A local court gave them bail on Saturday but they could be released only three days later because some formalities could not be completed, sources said.

Congress city president Mukesh Singh Chauhan told PTI that both walked out of jail at about 10 am.

“I was there along with other office party office bearers to receive them. Our party is against the CAA and against police brutality meted out to the peaceful protestors,” he said.

Sadaf was arrested on December 19 and Darapuri the next day.

According to reports, the Lucknow sessions court granted bail to the duo and several others after the police failed to produce any evidence of their involvement in the violence. Previously, the police had claimed that they had “enough proof” against Jafar. Congress leaders had alleged that Jafar was tortured in prison, a charge the Police denies.

After getting released, Darapuri said that it is “a matter of shame” how brutally people were detained and beaten up at Hazratganj and Hussainganj police station in Lucknow. “Even the women were beaten up in the presence of the SSP. He should be ashamed of himself,” the former police officer said.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was among the first to demand the release of Jafar, said that the UP Police could not produce evidence against them when asked by the court. “By arresting innocent people and also those who are taking forward the principles laid down by Babasaheb (Ambedkar), the BJP has shown its true face, however lie can never win,” she said in a Hindi tweet.

(With PTI inputs)