New Delhi – A Delhi court has remanded four individuals to police custody for two days in connection with the India Gate violence case that emerged from a November 23 protest against air pollution. Judicial Magistrate Sahil Monga ruled that custody was necessary for the investigation, though not for the full duration requested by authorities, marking a significant development in the controversial case.
Digital Evidence Complications
Investigators have revealed troubling findings regarding the seized phones of arrested students involved in the India Gate violence incident. The devices contained “auto-delete” features and formatted data, significantly hampering access to media files and chat logs. A senior police officer confirmed that many media files and chat logs are missing, suggesting a deliberate attempt to erase material before seizure.
“Much of the phone evidence is no longer readily accessible,” police conceded to the court. All seized devices have now been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to retrieve and reconstruct deleted content, a process that could prove crucial in establishing the sequence of events during the India Gate violence.
Court’s Balanced Approach
In granting the custody order related to the India Gate violence case, Judicial Magistrate Sahil Monga emphasized the complexity of the investigation. “Considering the nature of allegations, the stage of investigation, recovery of digital devices and the need for confrontation, identity verification and device examination, this court finds police custody remand necessary, though not for the period requested,” the magistrate stated.
The court took note of various recoveries claimed by police, including six unlabelled spray bottles seized from students near Parliament Street. However, court documents indicate no verified evidence yet confirms that pepper spray was actually used on police officers during the India Gate violence.
Allegations of Extremist Links
Police investigators presented serious allegations in their remand plea regarding the India Gate violence accused. Evidence has allegedly surfaced showing that the accused expressed support for militant movements linked to Jharkhand and groups affiliated with Naxalite ideology. Police cited a video recorded at the Press Club on November 14, accessed during the probe, where an accused was allegedly heard supporting the militant movement of Jharkhand.
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“They were holding posters protesting the death of Naxalite leader Madvi Hidma and shouting a slogan that translates to, ‘The more you kill Hidma, the more Hidma will emerge from every home’,” police stated in their plea. Investigators further claimed, “There is strong suspicion that the accused have deep-rooted links with anti-national Naxalite and militant movements. The extent of these associations is still being probed and must be unearthed in detail.”
Video Evidence and Online Activity
Police told the court that videos on social media platforms showed some accused attending the 50th anniversary of the Radical Students Union (RSU), described as a “banned Maoist-linked front organisation.” The accused allegedly participated in events “supporting Maoist figure Basavaraj, killed by security forces on May 21,” according to investigators examining the India Gate violence case.
Several online videos allegedly showed the accused raising slogans including “Lal Salaam.” Footage from Parliament Street reportedly shows them blocking police, confronting officers, holding sit-ins demanding the release of ‘comrades’, and even pushing or striking constables despite repeated warnings to disperse during the India Gate violence incident.
Allegations of Resistance and Misconduct
ACP Upasana Pandey of Nandgram circle provided detailed accounts of alleged resistance during detention. “We found that several students had supplied false addresses and withheld identity details, possibly to avoid verification. Some women accused, detained at night, allegedly resisted detention by pushing officers, shouting, throwing a printer, damaging ‘important files’, and breaking equipment inside the police station,” Pandey stated regarding the India Gate violence suspects.
She added, “These four women provided false personal details and were unwilling to cooperate during night detention. They confronted officers, pushed them, threw a printer and broke it. They also damaged crucial files. These acts were directed at female staff, making the situation more hostile.”
Defense Maintains Innocence
A lawyer representing the accused in the India Gate violence case strongly rejected police claims. “We are still waiting for the police to show us the evidence. They are making large claims with zero proof. They’re trying to frame students,” the defense counsel asserted.
Student groups have maintained that the protest was “for clean air, not politics.” A Delhi University law student present during the arrests described witnessing friends being physically mistreated. “I saw my friend pinned to the ground and beaten—even inside the police station—but now the police is spinning terror links. We will seek bail for everyone tomorrow,” the student stated.
Investigation Continues
The India Gate violence case continues to develop as forensic experts work to retrieve deleted data from seized devices. The two-day police custody period will allow investigators to conduct confrontations, verify identities, and examine digital devices thoroughly. As the probe intensifies, the contrasting narratives between police allegations and defense claims regarding the India Gate violence will require careful judicial scrutiny.
