MEERUT: Rakesh Garg and Rakesh Goel, two journalists who work in Hindi every day at Saharanpur, rise, have been discarded by a 34-year civil court after they were ordered for “riots”.
Goel died in 2018 after a prolonged disease.
Garg is now 64.
The court said that releasing the two accused in the case of “ancient” “no endangering public interest” as the upper government in 1991, under Minister of Chief Mulakyam Singh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, has asked for a written statement, to take it back All charges against the defendant.
The Saharanpur Court in its order, a copy with TOI, said that the government had initiated the process to take back the case in March 1991 but a written statement “.
The court began the process to release charges 11 years later, in 2002, after receiving the revised affidavit from the government.
Proceedings Continuing for the next 19 years and the defendant continued to make court rounds.
“It took 34 years for the court to release both and came to the conclusion that the charges framed against them should not be there.
The government has asked the court to revoke allegations against the defendant.
It took more than three decades for the court to give them a fair opportunity, “said Abhay Saini, lawyer and president of the local bar association.
Journalists are accused of” increasing provocative slogans “during the procession that passed near the Saharanpur Mosque in 1987.
They were sent to prison and police ordered it under section 147 (riots), 153 (a) (promoting disharmony), and 353 (attacks to obstruct public servants) from IPC.
The Government of Congress Congress Minister VIV Bahadur Singh also initially slapped the allegations against the duo below National Security Law, 1980.
Journalists spent time behind bars for a month, before the accusation was taken back.
The case then walked under the relevant IPC section.
Garg, who was 30 years old at the time of the incident, said that he did Reporting and did not participate in the procession.
He said the accusation was urged to seize permanent work, PI Bank Njaman, and endanger its reputation in the community.
He told TII that the procession was Ram Rath Yatra, which was an annual affair in the Gangoh Saharanpur area.
“Certain years see more celebrations as a Hindu Parishad Vishva movement picking steps,” he added.
“I am the one who calms the crowd, asking them not to lift the slogan.
What I did was urging the government to allow the procession to move forward, based on the request of the organizer of Yatra.
The police ordered me for no reason.
I thought I was a political victim,” Garg said.
Police, while ordering two journalists, said they “raised the anti-minority slogan and pushed PAC personnel”.