Northeast Delhi riot accused turns out to be man who took gunshot victim to hospital

NEW DELHI: A recent bail order of a man accused of rioting in northeast Delhi in February this year has revealed that he had, in fact, rushed a gunshot victim from his locality to a hospital.
Asad (23), through his counsel UA Khan, had sought bail with the contention that he had helped a person named Aasif, who was injured by a bullet during the riots. The counsel also said that no specific role in the case had been attributed to Asad. The prosecutor, however, argued that the applicant was a “close associate of the accused persons”.
In his testimony, the investigating officer first stated that a patrol officer saw a large number of rioters near Jafrabad Metro station who pelted stones and then he heard a gunshot. He said Asad was standing with the rioters and sloganeering. However, when the court specifically asked if Asad had caused the gunshot injury, the IO replied in the negative. He also admitted that Asad had taken the injured man to hospital.
Additional sessions judge Manjushwa Wadhwa then held that the applicant hadn’t caused the gunshot injury and he deserved bail.

Keeping in view that the investigation in the present matter qua the applicant is complete and the fact that he did not cause the gunshot injury to the victim, rather he had taken the injured to the hospital, the applicant is admitted to bail," the court said. He was directed to furnish a bail bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety of the same amount.
The prosecution had argued that Asad’s role was being "scanned" in about 700 cases registered in relation to the riots. "He may threaten the complainant and get involved in similar offences, if released on bail," it was contended.