Shifa Ur Rahman, an accused in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, has been granted custody parole by the Karkardooma Court to campaign in the upcoming Delhi State Assembly elections.
The court approved Rehman’s request for parole from January 30 to February 3, giving him the opportunity to campaign for his candidacy in the Okhla constituency, which he is contesting on an AIMIM ticket.
The custody parole granted by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai allows Rehman to be outside of jail for 12 hours each day during this period, with the condition that he returns to jail each night.
His parole is subject to certain conditions, including the payment of expenses for the battalion assigned to escort him to and from the jail.
Rehman is required to pay ₹207,429 per day for the first two days of his parole. The amount is to be recalculated for the subsequent days, with the payments made prior to the expiry of each two-day period.
The court also specified that Rehman could stay at his residence during the day but must remain under the supervision of the authorities. He has been permitted to visit his party office and attend meetings within his constituency as part of his campaign activities.
However, the court made it clear that Rehman must refrain from commenting on the ongoing cases during his campaign speeches, ensuring that his parole is strictly for election-related activities.
Shifa Ur Rehman is not the first to be granted parole in connection with the Delhi riots case. Previously, Tahir Hussain, another accused in the case, was also granted custody parole to file his election nomination.
Just like Rehman, Hussain was required to bear the expenses of the security battalion that escorted him. Both of these individuals sought parole to participate in the election process, with Rahman requesting interim bail for a longer duration to facilitate his full participation in campaigning.
The decision to grant parole to Rehman and Hussain highlights the balancing act between the right to participate in the democratic process and the need to ensure the proper legal processes are followed.
While Rehman has been allowed to conduct his election campaign, the conditions placed upon him, such as the restriction on making statements about pending cases, aim to preserve the integrity of the judicial process.
With the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 5, the stakes are high, and Rehman’s ability to campaign in his constituency will play a significant role in his political aspirations.
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