Court Grants Delhi Police Time on Deepak Khatri UAPA Bail Plea
The Rouse Avenue Court has granted Delhi Police more time to respond to the bail plea of Deepak Khatri, an accused in a high-profile UAPA arms case.
The Rouse Avenue Court has granted the Delhi Police additional time to submit a formal reply regarding the bail application filed by Deepak Khatri, who is facing serious charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The case involves allegations of illegal arms supply, extortion, and links to international terror modules.
Delay in Filing Reply
During the proceedings on Saturday, Special Judge (UAPA) Kiran Bansal extended the deadline for the police to file their response until Monday. The investigating officer appeared before the court and explained that the delay was due to the unavailability of the Public Prosecutor (PP). The officer noted that the reply needed to be forwarded from the PP's office but could not be completed in time for the hearing.
Deepak Khatri, also known as Deepak Nanda, was arrested on August 25 at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. During his arrest, he reportedly claimed to be a lawyer for the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
The Gravity of the Charges
The investigation into Khatri and his associates involves significant national security concerns. According to the Delhi Police, the accused is allegedly part of an international terror module operated by Shahbaz Ansari through intermediaries Harshpal Singh Rubal and Nishant Arora.
The police have presented a chilling picture of the alleged conspiracy:
- The Objective: The collection of sophisticated arms and ammunition was intended to create terror among the general public through indiscriminate firing during large gatherings and public events.
- Recoveries: So far, authorities have recovered 33 illegal semi-automatic pistols, including two submachine guns, and 368 live cartridges from various arrested individuals.
- Digital Evidence: Police previously sought custodial remand to analyze 100 GB of data extracted from Khatri's mobile phone.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The case has seen several procedural shifts recently. On October 8, the Principal District and Sessions Judge (PDSJ) transferred the UAPA case involving absconding accused Shahbaz Ansari and Rehan Ansari after a previous judge recused herself. The police have also moved an application for Non-Bailable Warrants (NBW) against the two absconding suspects.
Currently, 20 individuals have been arrested in connection with this case. A charge sheet has already been filed against 18 of the arrested persons and the alleged kingpin, Shahbaz Ansari. The court has previously noted that oral testimonies and electronic evidence collected by the investigating officer indicate the involvement of the accused in these alleged crimes against the state.