The Delhi Police Special Cell searched the office of lawyer Mahmood Pracha in Nizamuddin East on Thursday.
Pracha Law firm Legal Axis is defending various defendants in different cases related to the Delhi riots in February this year; These cases include those in which sections of the strict Illicit Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) have been invoked.
In August, police told a Delhi court that Pracha had forged documents and instigated a man to make a false statement in a case related to the riots. Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav, in an order, had said that “it would be appropriate if the matter is investigated by an independent agency such as Crime Branch or Special Cell.” An FIR was filed on the matter.
According to Pracha’s associate attorney Digvijay Singh, the law firm is handling nearly 150 riot-related cases, including one filed against student activist Gulfisha Fatima, who is in court custody in a UAPA case.
Additional PRO (Delhi Police) Anil Mittal said: “During the course of a bail matter involving a defendant in the North East Delhi riots, the use of a forged notary seal and the creation of allegedly false / tampered evidence by part of certain members of the Bar was noticed. The Special Court had observed that this required a thorough investigation. Pursuant to this, a criminal case was registered under the relevant legal sections and the investigation was initiated. “
“During the course of the investigation, search warrants were obtained from the Court to search for electronic and other evidence from the premises of two members of the Bar Association and are being carried out professionally at one location in Nizamuddin and another in Yamuna Vihar, “he said.
The search warrant, issued on December 22 under Section 93 of the CrPC, establishes: “This is to authorize and require the investigating officer of this case to search for said documents and incriminating metadata in the mail identification outbox. electronic … wherever they are whether on the computer or in the office / premises … including the email identification outbox … as well as in other offices / premises where the presence of such evidence is detected during the search / investigation and, if found, present it immediately before this court. “
Police officers barred entry to Pracha’s office in Nizamuddin East while the searches were underway. At night, from the second floor balcony, Pracha said: “My phone has been seized. I am being threatened. I have told them that they can take things from my computers, from my office and even from my house. At the end of the day, the Constitution will win. It is not that weak … We will make sure that each and every victim of the riots receives justice. “
Lawyers working with Pracha filed an application with CMM Pankaj Sharma against the seizure of material. It is expected to be heard on Friday.
The request seeks clarification from the IO on the search warrant, stating that the team is “obligated to provide purported documents and is also told that failure to do so will confiscate all computers, documents, etc.” .
The main defender Indira Jaising, in a Twitter post, described the searches as “a direct attack on the fundamental right of the right to legal representation” and said that “all lawyers must condemn this attack.”
Leading defender Chander Uday Singh said: “This raid will have a chilling effect on legal representation if the lawyers’ records are randomly reviewed and seized.”
Attorney Prashant Bhushan said: “The goal of the lawyers defending those who have been indicted is the next step in this conspiracy to incriminate protesters, activists and their lawyers under the guise of an investigation.”
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