Right-wing activist Kajal Shingala, also known as Hindustani, has been granted regular bail by a sessions court in Gir Somnath district. Shingala was arrested on April 9 by Una police for alleged “hate speech” on Ram Navami, which led to communal riots in Una town of the district. Additional sessions judge R M Asodiya passed the order granting relief to the 41-year-old who surrendered voluntarily and has been in judicial custody at Junagadh central jail since then.
Shingala’s lawyer R A Parmar said that the court granted bail on several conditions, including her presence at the police station twice a month, not leaving India and surrendering her passport, not entering Gir Somnath district unless there is a hearing on her case, among others. Parmar further stated that Shingala may be out of jail by Thursday evening.
In her bail plea, Shingala claimed that she never committed any offence as alleged in the FIR. She mentioned that she has the responsibility of taking care of children and the court should have mercy on her. Shingala also said that she was a resident of Jamanagar where she has immovable properties and will not run away if granted bail.
Shingala is accused of giving a provocative speech on Ram Navami on March 30, triggering communal riots a day later. She was booked on a complaint lodged by assistant sub-inspector with Una police station Kantibhai Ramjibhai under section 153 A, 295A, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.
Shingala has over 96,000 followers, including PM Narendra Modi, on Twitter where she identifies herself as “an entrepreneur, research analyst, debater, social activist, nationalist and proud Hindustani.” Following her controversial speech on Muslims during Ram Navami, communal clashes erupted in Una town.
The police named 76 people as accused in the FIR, and a mob of about 200 men from the minority community were booked for rioting, and voluntarily causing hurt, among other charges. The magisterial court had denied Shingala bail on the day of her arrest and sent her to Junagadh jail. However, the additional sessions judge has now granted her regular bail on certain conditions.
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