Principal District Judge transfers UAPA case connected with Shahbaz Ansari, Rehan Ansari, Deepak Khatri after recusal by judge
A high-profile UAPA case involving Shahbaz Ansari and Deepak Khatri has been transferred to a new court after the previous judge recused herself.
In a significant procedural shift within the Delhi legal system, the Principal District and Sessions Judge (PDSJ) has transferred a high-stakes Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case to a new court. The decision follows the recusal of the presiding judge, who stepped away from the matter due to personal reasons.
New Court to Handle High-Profile UAPA Case
PDSJ Nikhil Chopra has officially transferred the case, which involves absconding accused Shahbaz Ansari and Rehan Ansari, to the court of Special NIA Judge Kiran Bansal. The matter was previously being heard by Special NIA Judge Anu Grover Baliga, who recused herself on September 25. Following her recusal, the case file was directed to the Rouse Avenue Court for reassignment.
The judicial reshuffle comes at a critical juncture for the investigation. Several urgent legal matters are now slated for hearing before Special Judge Kiran Bansal on October 10, including:
- The bail application of Deepak Nanda, also known as Deepak Khatri.
- The bail application of an accused named Noman.
- An application seeking the issuance of Non-Bailable Warrants (NBW) against the absconding Shahbaz Ansari and Rehan Ansari.
Arrest of Alleged Lawyer for Lawrence Bishnoi
The case has gained intense scrutiny following the arrest of Deepak Nanda, alias Deepak Khatri. Khatri, who has claimed to be a lawyer for the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was apprehended at IGI Airport. His arrest is linked to a massive UAPA investigation involving illegal arms supply and extortion.
During the investigation, Delhi Police revealed the scale of the criminal network, noting that:
- Approximately 20 accused individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
- Authorities recovered 33 illegal semi-automatic pistols, including two submachine guns.
- A significant cache of 368 live cartridges was seized from the arrested persons.
Massive Data Recovery and Ongoing Investigation
The investigation has been bolstered by significant digital evidence. Delhi Police previously sought custodial remand to analyze 100 GB of data extracted from the mobile phone of an accused. The intelligence agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have also been actively interrogating the suspects.
The court has noted that oral testimonies and electronic evidence collected by the Investigating Officer (IO) strongly suggest the involvement of the accused in the alleged crimes. A charge sheet has already been filed against 18 arrested individuals and the alleged kingpin, Shahbaz Ansari, who remains at large.