Uttarakhand: High court grants bail to wife of Abdul Malik, accused of Haldwani violence
The Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday heard the bail plea of Safia Malik, wife of Abdul Malik, the main accused in the Haldwani Banbhulpura violence. After hearing the case, a single bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani has granted bail to Safia Malik after hearing both the parties.
According to the case, a criminal case is registered against Abdul Malik’s wife Safia Malik in Haldwani Kotwali of Nainital district. Safia is accused of selling the government’s Nazul land in Banbhulpura, Haldwani on stamp paper through forged documents and false affidavits, and committing fraud in the name of dead persons.
Assistant Municipal Commissioner Ganesh Bhatt registered a case against Safia Malik under sections 120B, 417, 420, 467, 468, 471 of the Indian Penal Code on 22 February 2024 after the Banbhulpura violence. The lower court, while hearing her bail plea, rejected it on 29 April 2024. After this, Safia had filed an application in the High Court for bail. In which it was said on her behalf that she is innocent. The allegations leveled against her are wrong. Therefore, she should be released on bail.
The government opposed the bail application and said that there are serious allegations against Safia Malik. The court has granted bail to Safia Malik after hearing both the parties.
This is the case: On 8 February 2024, several rioters attacked the police and administration team while protesting against the demolition of illegal encroachment in Banbhulpura police station area of Haldwani. Apart from this, arson was done in the area and government weapons were looted while handing over the Banbhulpura police station. 5 months after the violence, the police filed a charge sheet in the court against all 107 accused including Abdul Malik in the case of violence. Abdul Malik has been described by the police as the mastermind of the entire incident.
