Delhi’s Patiala House Court allowed banned terrorist organisation Indian Mujahideen’s (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal to speak to his mother through video conferencing. In its order, the court also directed that Bhatkal would speak with his mother in Hindi only. The jail’s superintendent has also been allowed to get the communication recorded for security purposes.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: Delhi’s Patiala House Court permitted Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of the banned terrorist organization Indian Mujahideen (IM), to communicate with his mother via video conferencing. Bhatkal, who has been implicated in orchestrating multiple terror attacks across India, was captured by Indian security forces near the Bihar-Nepal border in 2013.
In its decision, the court stipulated that Bhatkal is to converse with his mother solely in Hindi. Furthermore, the jail’s superintendent has been authorized to record the conversation for security reasons.
The court’s decision took into account the critical health condition of Bhatkal’s mother, who recently underwent heart surgery.
The ruling came after Bhatkal’s lawyer informed the court that his client had not communicated with his family for the past 13 years. The Investigative Officer (IO) involved in Bhatkal’s case reviewed his mother’s medical records and confirmed their authenticity.
Initially, Bhatkal had filed a plea seeking custody parole to attend to his ailing mother. However, Advocate Rahul Sahani, representing Bhatkal, acknowledged that Section 268 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) had been invoked, which restricted Bhatkal’s movement. Consequently, Sahani did not press for custody parole and instead requested that Bhatkal be granted the e-mulaqat (virtual meeting) facility with his mother once a month on humanitarian grounds.
The Delhi Police’s Special Cell strongly opposed Bhatkal’s request for custody parole. They described him as one of India’s most dangerous terrorists, responsible for numerous serial bombings across the country, including the 2008 Delhi serial blasts, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people and significant property damage.
The Special Cell also raised concerns about the security risks involved in transporting Bhatkal to his hometown, which is over 2,000 kilometers away. They expressed fears that Bhatkal might escape from custody during transit, posing a severe threat to public safety.
Ultimately, while rejecting the request for custody parole, the court balanced humanitarian considerations with security concerns by allowing the virtual interaction between Bhatkal and his mother, ensuring both compassion and vigilance in handling the situation.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Yasin Bhatkal
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Indian Mujahideen
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
