A Delhi court has granted bail to Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow, London, who was allegedly involved in the attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March 2023. The court’s decision, made on January 29, 2024, comes after Gaba was detained by Indian authorities at the Attari border in December 2023 and later arrested in April 2024 under multiple charges, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act.
According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the attack on March 19, 2023, and a subsequent agitation on March 22, 2023, in which Gaba allegedly participated, were part of a coordinated effort linked to the “Waris Punjab De” group and its leader, Amritpal Singh. However, in the court’s ruling, Principal District and Sessions Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav noted that Gaba’s role appeared to be limited to the March 22 incident, with no substantial evidence linking him to the earlier attack on March 19.
The NIA claimed that the March incidents were orchestrated by a common group of individuals, with the goal of influencing actions against Amritpal Singh. While Gaba’s involvement in the March 22 demonstration was acknowledged, the court stated that his participation did not warrant extreme penalties such as life imprisonment or the death penalty. The judge highlighted that Gaba had no prior criminal record and there was no clear evidence linking him to violence during the demonstrations. The court also took into account the delay in the trial, which had not yet commenced, and questioned the appropriateness of continuing Gaba’s detention under the allegations.
The NIA also cited a photograph found in Gaba’s phone, in which he allegedly posed with an AK47 rifle. However, the court dismissed this argument, stating that the authenticity of the photograph could not be verified and that, in today’s age of digital manipulation, it was not uncommon for individuals to pose with objects for photos. No actual weapon was recovered in connection with the case.
Despite the serious nature of the charges, the court acknowledged the absence of significant evidence to justify Gaba’s continued detention. With the trial expected to take an extended period, the judge deemed bail to be appropriate under the circumstances.
Gaba, who had been in custody since his arrest in April 2024, will now be granted bail while the investigation continues.
Sources By Agencies
