A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to a Congress member arrested in connection with a fake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s speech, noting that he has cooperated in the investigation and there is no need to pursue it further. his interrogation in custody. According to officials, Arun Reddy, who was arrested on May 3, runs the ‘Spirit of Congress’ account on ‘X’, news agency PTI reported.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Nabeela Wali said the main charge against the accused for which he was arrested was being the “administrator” of the WhatsApp group in which the alleged fake video was first posted for circulation. However, there is no allegation that the accused has posted or circulated the said video on any forum, the judge noted, PTI reported.
He pointed out that the accused has been detained since May 3 and the investigating agency had already taken his police preventive detention. “Further, the applicant/accused, as per the response of the investigation officer (IO), has cooperated with the investigation agency and has revealed the name of his associates/other investigations. Further, it is an admitted position that there will be no further police custody . is required,” the judge said, PTI reported.
The court said the Telangana High Court has granted protection from coercive action to the other suspects in the present case. “In the opinion of this court, there is no need for further interrogation of the accused in custody. Furthermore, the investigation agency is not unaware of the whereabouts or details of the other suspects. It is also stated that no further recovery of the accused and the phone will be made. accused Arun Kumar Bereddy is granted bail,” the judge said, PTI reported.
The judge directed the accused to join the investigation when requested by the IO (investigating officer) and to provide his mobile phone number to the IO, which will be kept operational at all times so that he can be reached.
“This defendant will not be able to leave the country without the permission of the Court. The defendant must attend the process either before the I0 or before the court,” said the judge. The judge further ordered the accused not to make, directly or indirectly, any inducement, threat or promise to any person familiar with the facts of the case to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or any police officer or tampering with the evidence. , reported PTI.
Earlier, the court had sent Reddy, 37, to judicial custody after the police said the accused was not required for further interrogation. Delhi Police arrested Reddy on Friday. The special cell had registered an FIR after the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), lodged a complaint regarding Shah’s doctored video showing his statements. indicating a commitment to abolish the Muslim quota. in Telangana were changed to make it look like he was advocating removal of all reservations, PTI reported.
(With input from PTI)