New Delhi: The Karnataka High Court turned down the bail application of 41 accused in the 2022 Hubballi riots case where a police station was attacked by a mob of around thousands of people.
A bench consisting of Justices B Veerappa and Venkatesh Naik was hearing a bail plea by the accused in connection with the stone pelting incident on Old Hubballi police station in April 2022.
The High Court was hearing the plea after a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court dismissed their bail petitions already.
As many as 140 people were booked in the matter under various provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The incident took place allegedly because a picture of saffron flag on the dome of a mosque was circulating that outraged the mob who later launched the attack.
Appearing for the accused, Advocate S Balakrishnan submitted that they cannot be declared members of a terrorist organisation as defined under section 2(m) of UAPA since none of them were associated with any of the 43 banned organisations under section 35 of UAPA.
The advocate further said that Section 16(1)(a) was also applicable in the case as there is no deaths in result. Balakrishnan claimed that the facts of the present case were different as compared to the judgments relied upon by the trial Court, reported Bar and Bench.
