Asif Tanha

Out on Bail | Delhi

Asif Iqbal Tanha is a 24-year-old student from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, who is studying for a BA in Persian Studies at Jamia Milia Islamia. He joined the Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) – the student’s wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, at the age of 15. Tanha has also been instrumental in organizing protests and mobilising students against the anti-Muslim measures of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Tanha fought against injustice in the campus and actively participated in protests for the restoration of the Students Union and the right to association, which was suspended in 2006. He was also involved in the protest movement against the CAA-NRC right from the beginning and was an important decision-maker in the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC).

Charges

Initially booked under Sections of UAPA, Arms Act, and plethora of IPC Sections. Significantly, the Delhi High court has only charged him under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), noting that the accused will not be charged under other sections of law mentioned in the chargesheet since there is not enough material to implicate him under those sections of law.

Timeline

May 2, 2023

The Supreme Court dismisses appeal moved by Delhi Police against Delhi High Court order granting bail to the accused in the case of Delhi riots conspiracy case.

March 28, 2023

The Delhi High Court on March 28, 2023, partially set aside the trial court order discharging Asif Tanha in a case related to the violence that took place at Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019.

February 4 2023

Asif Iqbal Tanha, and eight others, were discharged in the crucial 2019 Jamia violence case (FIR No. 296 of 2019). Additional sessions judge, Saket Court, Arul Verma, while discharging these accused, has held that while the Delhi police were unable to apprehend the "actual criminals" they "definitely succeeded in using them (accused) as scapegoats". The additional sessions judge also admonished the prosecution for presenting "ill-conceived charge sheets," noting that the police had "arbitrarily selected" some protesters to charge sheet and others (to name) as police witnesses.

May 2020

Asif Tanha was booked under a FIR (59/2020) and was charged under the draconian UAPA and the IPC

June 2020

Asif Iqbal Tanha was further sent to judicial custody until 26 June 2020.

2020

During the hearing of a plea filed against the 30-day custody, Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana expresses his reservation about the investigation, defining it biased.

March 2021

The Delhi High Court slammed Delhi Police over a vigilance inquiry report that said his confessional statement had been leaked to the media.

June 15, 2021

The Delhi High Court grants regular bail to Asif Tanha. In its bail order, the HC argued that the trial is yet to commence and there is no material or basis to suspect; nor is there any reasonable apprehension that the appellant will tamper with evidence or intimidate witnesses.

Asif Tanha

Charges

Timeline

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