AGRA: On Tuesday, the Allahabad high court ordered the state government to release Dr. Kafeel Khan, who was booked under the National Security Act (NSA) in February for allegedly giving a provocative speech against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
The court overturned the February 13 arrest warrant issued by District Judge Aligarh, which was upheld by the state government.
By the way, the release of Dr. Kafeel Khan occurs on the birthday of his wife Shabista Khan. She said, “It’s the best birthday present I’ve ever received.”
In the order, the court also made the extension of Dr. Khan’s detention period illegal. The order was issued following a habeas corpus petition filed by Dr. Khan’s mother, Nuzhat Parveen.
When contacted, Mathura Prison Chief Superintendent Shailendra Maitrey said they would release Dr. Khan once Aligarh DM receives the orders.
His family members made several calls for the release of Dr. Khan on social media. He recently made the news after a letter he wrote about prison conditions in Mathura was shared on social media. The four-page letter, allegedly written by him in June, spoke of the “hellish” conditions at his barracks, where 150 inmates shared a bathroom.
Earlier in March, just as the magnitude of Covid-19 was affecting governments around the world, he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that he be allowed to use his medical expertise to help fight the pandemic. “I have conducted 103 free medical camps since I got out of jail after the BRD oxygen tragedy examining over 50,000 children / patients across India … I think I could be of some help in reducing this disease,” had written.
The death of nearly 60 children at the BRD state hospital in Gorakhpur due to oxygen shortages was the flash point that put Dr. Khan in what was to be a recurring line of fire. He was charged with medical negligence and neglect of duty, but was acquitted after two years; he had spent nine months behind bars at the time.
Then, in January this year, he was arrested in Mumbai for his anti-CAA speech. He’s been behind bars ever since.
On Video: Allahabad High Court Orders Dr Kafeel Khan’s Release, Voids Arrest Warrant Under NSA
The court overturned the February 13 arrest warrant issued by District Judge Aligarh, which was upheld by the state government.
By the way, the release of Dr. Kafeel Khan occurs on the birthday of his wife Shabista Khan. She said, “It’s the best birthday present I’ve ever received.”
In the order, the court also made the extension of Dr. Khan’s detention period illegal. The order was issued following a habeas corpus petition filed by Dr. Khan’s mother, Nuzhat Parveen.
When contacted, Mathura Prison Chief Superintendent Shailendra Maitrey said they would release Dr. Khan once Aligarh DM receives the orders.
His family members made several calls for the release of Dr. Khan on social media. He recently made the news after a letter he wrote about prison conditions in Mathura was shared on social media. The four-page letter, allegedly written by him in June, spoke of the “hellish” conditions at his barracks, where 150 inmates shared a bathroom.
Earlier in March, just as the magnitude of Covid-19 was affecting governments around the world, he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that he be allowed to use his medical expertise to help fight the pandemic. “I have conducted 103 free medical camps since I got out of jail after the BRD oxygen tragedy examining over 50,000 children / patients across India … I think I could be of some help in reducing this disease,” had written.
The death of nearly 60 children at the BRD state hospital in Gorakhpur due to oxygen shortages was the flash point that put Dr. Khan in what was to be a recurring line of fire. He was charged with medical negligence and neglect of duty, but was acquitted after two years; he had spent nine months behind bars at the time.
Then, in January this year, he was arrested in Mumbai for his anti-CAA speech. He’s been behind bars ever since.
On Video: Allahabad High Court Orders Dr Kafeel Khan’s Release, Voids Arrest Warrant Under NSA
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