[Farmers Protests] Not carrying journalist card no ground for arrest: Journalist Mandeep Puniya in his bail plea before Delhi court

Freelance journalist Mandeep Punia, who was arrested by the Delhi Police from Singhu border, has been sent to judicial custody. .Metropolitan Magistrate, Akhil Malik, Karkardooma Court who heard Punia's bail plea on Sunday sent Punia to judicial custody since Investigating Officer (IO) was not present. .The Court directed the IO to file a formal response and also ordered that the matter be listed before the appropriate court on Monday. ."IO to file formal reply forwarded through SHO. Put up before concerned Court for February 1, 2021," the Court ordered..The matter has been listed for hearing tomorrow before the Metropolitan Magistrate at Rohini, Delhi. Till then the journalist would be under Judicial custody..Accused is a freelance journalist and not carrying press card can be no grounds for a case or arrest. Mandeep Puniya .Punia was arrested on January 30 from Singhu border where he was covering the farmers protests. .He was charged for offences under Section 186 (obstructing any public servant while discharging public functions), 353 ( Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and Section 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) of the Indian Penal Code. FIR was registered at around 1 AM on Sunday, January 31. .In his bail plea, Punia has contended that he was merely carrying out his journalistic duties when he was apprehended by the Delhi Police. .The plea highlights that there was a delay of seven hours in filing the FIR and both the complainant and victim are police officers..It has also been pointed out that while another journalist arrested along with him was released, he is still under custody on the ground that he was not carrying a press card. ."Accused is a freelance journalist and not carrying press card can be no grounds for a case or arrest," Punia has contended..Further, there is video evidence which contradicts the contents of the FIR, he has claimed. .On Sunday, the bail application was moved before the Delhi Court through advocates Sarim Naved, Akram Khan and Kamran Javed..As the Investigation Officer was not present, the Court sent Mandeep to judicial custody and the posted the case for hearing on Monday. .[Read Bail Application and Order]