Court Directs Natasha Narwal To "Observe Remote Silence" During Her Interim Bail Period

Natasha Narwal bail: In passing the order Monday for her three-week interim bail, the Delhi High Court has directed Pinjra Tod activist Natasha Narwal to "observe remote silence" with regard to her ongoing case. Narwal was arrested last year on May 23 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, accused of allegedly playing a role in the bloody riots in Delhi in 2020.

She had filed an application in court seeking interim bail earlier this month on grounds that her father and noted communist leader, Mahavir Narwal, was hospitalised in Rohtak on May 3 while battling COVID-19. After a week-long battle with the virus, he passed away May 9. His daughter's interim bail order comes a day after his death.

Since her younger brother is COVID-19 positive and in isolation, and their mother has long passed, Narwal will perform their father's last rites. The hospital he was admitted to is reportedly holding his body until Narwal reaches Rohtak.

Natasha Narwal Bail Conditions, Activist Asked Not To Tweet On Her Case

The court has asked Narwal to furnish a personal bond worth Rs 50,000 and leave contact details with police authorities. Her phone number is seized too, as per her lawyer Amit Mahajan, who said that Narwal couldn't "even speak" during a video call with them.

Representing the state, advocate Amit Mahajan told the court, "Accused should not do any comments or tweet on the pending trial," to which the division bench comprising Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup J Bhambhani, responded, "You think at the time of grief, they will tweet about this?"

"In view of the interest of justice, we are of the view that the release of the applicant is imperative in this hour of grief and personal loss," the Delhi court noted.