Amir Shokeen Sent to 5-Day Police Custody Over Racial Slurs
Delhi court sends Amir Shokeen to police custody over racial remarks against a Tripura man. Police to travel to Ahmedabad for further investigation.
In a significant legal development, Delhi's Tis Hazari Court has remanded Amir Shokeen to five days of police custody. The move comes after Shokeen was arrested for allegedly making racial remarks against a man hailing from Tripura in a video that was circulated on social media.
The Court's Decision
Special Judge Shilpi Jain granted the police custody after hearing arguments from both the Public Prosecutor and the legal counsel representing the accused. Shokeen had previously been placed in judicial custody on Friday by a Duty Magistrate, but the Delhi Police sought a longer period of interrogation to uncover further details of the case.
The Investigation and the 'Ahmedabad Connection'
The Delhi Police revealed that the investigation now leads to Gujarat. According to the authorities, the objectionable video was recorded by another individual in Ahmedabad, which Shokeen then uploaded to social media. The footage allegedly shows Shokeen mocking the victim from Tripura.
The police have requested the custody to achieve the following objectives:
- Identification: Taking the accused to Ahmedabad to identify and arrest other individuals appearing in the video.
- Evidence Recovery: Recovering a mobile phone linked to the incident.
- Interrogation: Questioning the accused regarding the creation and dissemination of the offensive content.
Legal Battle in Court
The remand was not without opposition. Advocate Vinit Jain, appearing for Amir Shokeen, contested the request, arguing that the Investigation Officer had failed to provide a specific address in Ahmedabad. The defense contended that the accused could not be forced to wander across the entire city of Ahmedabad without a clear lead.
Furthermore, the defense claimed that the other individuals seen in the video were not making any derogatory remarks nor were they even looking at the victim.
However, the Public Prosecutor countered these claims, stating that Shokeen was intentionally withholding the exact addresses of the other suspects located in Ahmedabad, making his physical presence there essential for the investigation.
Multiple FIRs Registered
The legal heat on Amir Shokeen is intensifying as he faces charges in two different states. The Delhi Police have registered an FIR at the Sadar Bazar Police Station, invoking the SC/ST Act and other relevant legal provisions. Additionally, a separate FIR has been lodged by the local police in Tripura regarding the same incident.