Natasha Narwal was arrested last year over an alleged conspiracy linked to the Delhi riots that erupted in the national capital in February 2020.
Delhi High Court on Monday morning granted interim bail to activist Natasha Narwal to perform the last rites of her father, Mahavir Narwal – a senior member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Mr Narwal passed away on Sunday after contracting the novel coronavirus.
Natasha Narwal was arrested last year over an alleged conspiracy linked to the Delhi riots that erupted in the national capital in February 2020. Ms Narwal was booked under the stringent anti-terror law UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act). She is associated with a Delhi-based group called “Pinjra Tod” that fights for women’s rights.
Aakash Narwal, Natasha’s brother, is also in isolation after he tested positive for coronavirus. “Therefore, there is nobody else in the family to perform the last rites and cremation,” the court observed.
“In 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 court noted.
The activist has been granted bail for three weeks and Delhi Police did not oppose her plea. While granting bail, the court asked her to “furnish a personal bond of ₹ 50,000” and to refrain from speaking about the case. “She should surrender herself upon the completion of three weeks interim bail period with an RT-PCR Covid test result,” the court said.
Citing sources close to the family, news agency PTI reported that Mahavir Narwal could not speak to his daughter before his death.
Political leaders and parties took to social media to pay last respects to Mr Narwal, while highlighting the “unfair” incarceration of his daughter as he breathed his last.
“Unbelievably tragic, @harsh_mander. It is so sad to see our Indian democracy reduced to this state. Bail, not jail, used to be the mantra in such cases. What is happening to our human values that a daughter imprisoned for a political protest isn’t allowed to meet her dying father?” the Congress’s Shashi Tharoor tweeted.
Unbelievably tragic, @harsh_mander. It is so sad to see our Indian democracy reduced to this state. Bail,not jail, used to be the mantra in such cases. What is happening to our human values that a daughter imprisoned for a political protest isn't allowed to meet her dying father? https://t.co/rNdEDWGLdQ
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 9, 2021
“Extend my deep condolences to Natasha and her brother Aakash. The terrible injustice of the system in which a daughter wrongly locked up for a year unable to see her father even for a final farewell,” CPI-M’s Brinda Karat said.
The CPI-M slammed the central government over Ms Narwal’s arrest in its condolence message.
With deep regret and sorrow sharing the death of Com. Mahavir Narwal, head of Haryana Vigyan Manch due to Covid complications. He always stood by his daughter Natasha, falsely put under UAPA by the Modi-Shah duo, & has been incarcerating in Tihar ever since. Com. Mahavir Lalsalam pic.twitter.com/YEcMN9vewQ
— CPIM DELHI (@CPIMSTATEDELHI) May 9, 2021
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