India / Delhi court sends Deep Sidhu to 7-day custody in Republic Day violence case

New Delhi: Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu was on Tuesday, 9 February, remanded to a seven-day police custody, in connection with the Republic Day violence during the farmers’ tractor rally in Delhi.

Sidhu was produced in a Delhi Court, on Tuesday, 9 February, following his arrest by the Delhi Police.

Police, according to media reports, originally sought 10 days custody. However, Sidhu’s lawyers argued that the police have all the evidence required, and thus, there was no need for extended custody.

Therefore, some interrogation was conducted by the police in the court, so as to ascertain how many days of remand was required.

What Happened in the Court?

Police, in the court, had reportedly sought Sidhu’s remand after stating the following:

1. They need to conduct an inquiry

2. They have videos as evidence against Sidhu

3. Sidhu provoked people, due to which damage was caused to public property.

Further, the police said that Sidhu’s social media accounts have to be investigated.

Sidhu’s lawyer on the other hand opposed the police’s demand for remand, stating that the police already has everything, including CCTV and video footage. Nothing else can be recovered from the remand, the lawyer said.

Sidhu’s Arrest: More Details

Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, DCP Special cell, informed that the police arrested Sidhu from Karnal in Haryana, while he was waiting for someone to pick him up.

“He will be handed over to the Crime Branch at the Tis Hazari court. He was changing the location since the time he fled away, after descending of the National Flag happened at the Red fort (sic),” Yadav said.

Sidhu was reportedly in contact with a female friend and an actor who lives in California, whom he would send videos to be uploaded on his Facebook account.

“Delhi Police Special Cell team has arrested Deep Sidhu, the main accused in violence at Red Fort and other parts of Delhi on 26th January. His pictures are in the public domain. We had announced Rs 1 lakh reward on his arrest. Further probe is underway,” Chinmoy Biswal, Delhi Police PRO told ANI on Tuesday.

Earlier, his name had been included in an FIR filed in connection with the violence that ensued at the Red Fort on 26 January, via case diary, Delhi Police sources had told The Quint.

The Delhi Police, on 3 February, had announced cash rewards for any information leading to the arrest of several accused of the 26 January violence in Delhi, including Sidhu.

Along with Sidhu, a reward of Rs 1 lakh had also been announced for information on Jugraj Singh, Gurjot Singh and Gurjant Singh, and Rs 50,000 each for the whereabouts of Jajbir Singh, Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Iqbal Singh.

All the accused have been named in several FIRs registered over the violence.

Sidhu had claimed responsibility for hoisting the Nishan Sahib flag at the iconic Red Fort during 26 January’s tractor rally.

Deep Sidhu: From Influencer to Accused

Sidhu was one of the first celebrity voices at the forefront of the farmers’ protest that started in November 2020 against the three farm laws introduced by the Centre.

After initially being seen as a supporter of the movement, Sidhu admitted to raising the Nishan Sahib flag at the Red Fort during the 26 January unrest in Delhi, following which farm union leaders accused him of provoking farmers to change the designated route of the tractor rally and march to the Red Fort.

Several farm leaders accused him of being planted by the BJP to derail the movement and give the protests a violent turn in order to defame them.

Following the accusations, pictures of Sidhu with Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP MP Sunny Deol went viral on social media, forcing Sidhu to go underground.

A video of Sidhu and his associates being chased by protesting farmers at the protest site then went viral as well, following which he was believed to be absconding.

While he remained untraceable, Sidhu had been posting videos on social media, accusing farm unions of taking decisions single-handedly, without paying heed to the demands of the protesters. He also accused farm leaders of deliberately singling him out and creating a divide in the movement.