Delhi High Court Agrees To Hear Tomorrow PIL Seeking NIA Probe Into CJP Protest Over Alleged Foreign Funding

The Delhi High Court has allowed urgent listing for tomorrow of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions for an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” protest over the NEET paper leak.The plea claims that the agitation was part of a larger conspiracy involving foreign-funded organisations and political actors.The plea was mentioned by Advocate Barun Kumar Sinha before a division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.Praying for urgent listing for tomorrow, Sinha said that the matter pertains to “so called students” protest and that entire Delhi has been made hostage. “Entire roads have been blocked. Citizens are suffering,” he said. The Court allowed the matter to be heard tomorrow. The petition has been filed by Satish Kumar Aggarwal, an ex-Vice President of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.According to the petitioner, what began as a protest over the NEET examination paper leak was allegedly transformed into a political agitation after participation by various political leaders.The petition alleges that the July 20 march witnessed violence, obstruction of public movement, attacks on journalists, damage to public and private property, attempts to breach Parliament security and injuries to police personnel.It further contends that these events warrant an impartial investigation into the role of organisers, participants and any alleged external or foreign influence.The PIL also refers to social activist Sonam Wangchuk's participation in the protest and relies on publicly available reports regarding his alleged associations with foreign organisations, contending that these aspects require investigation by competent authorities.It alleges that subsequent to marriage to his first wife, Wangchuk began receiving substantial support and recognition from various foreign organizations. It adds that his affiliations, funding relationships, and institutional associations may be relevant for consideration while examining the broader network of entities, organizations, and stakeholders connected with the matter under review.“That it is pertinent to mention that, the so-called protest is not, in substance, a genuine protest by students or for student-related concerns. Rather, it appears to be a part of a larger conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by anti-national and foreign elements with the purported intention of destabilizing the country by exploiting financial influence and monetary resources,” the plea states.The petitioner alleges that the “so-called protest ostensibly organized on the pretext of demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan” has witnessed the gathering and participation of individuals and elements whose activities and statements appear to be motivated by an anti India agenda.“That Arundhati Roy, who has repeatedly made controversial statements concerning the issue of Kashmir and has expressed views that do not acknowledge Kashmir as an integral part of India, has also participated in the said protest. Her association with such an event raises serious concerns regarding the underlying motives and objectives of the gathering,” the plea states.It adds that various political leaders effectively took over and influenced the said protest, thereby provoking and instigating the participants. It names Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Atishi Marlena, Dimple Yadav, Dharmendra Yadav and Chandra Shekhar Azad.It further alleges that the said politicians, along with their supporters, instigated the protesters to resort to acts of violence and attempted to breach the gates of Parliament House.“The incident should not be treated as a simple case of public agitation or be confined to the registration of an ordinary FIR. In view of the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempt to enter the Parliament House premises and the possibility of involvement of organised or external elements, a comprehensive investigation by a specialised national security agency is necessary to ascertain the true facts, identify the persons responsible, and examine any larger conspiracy behind the incident,” the petitioner claims.The petition seeks directions to transfer the investigation into the July 20 incidents to the NIA or another specialised agency.It further prays that the said agency must take over all FIRs registered by Delhi Police in connection with the protest and that it should be ensured that the identification and prosecution of all persons allegedly responsible for violence, vandalism, obstruction of emergency services and damage to public and private property must happen.Title: SATISH KUMAR AGGARWAL v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS

Delhi High Court Agrees To Hear Tomorrow PIL Seeking NIA Probe Into CJP Protest Over Alleged Foreign Funding

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Delhi High Court Agrees To Hear Tomorrow PIL Seeking NIA Probe Into CJP Protest Over Alleged Foreign Funding

Nupur Thapliyal

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