Anti-CAA protests: Activist Sadaf Jafar, former IPS officer SR Darapuri released from Lucknow jail

Activist Sadaf Jafar and former IPS officer S R Darapuri, arrested in connection with violence during anti-CAA protests in the Uttar Pradesh capital last month, were released from jail on Tuesday.

A local court gave them bail on Saturday but they could be released only three days later because some formalities could not be completed, sources said.

“The fear of being jailed and beaten up has now gone away, thanks to Yogi Ji. I will continue to protest strongly till the time this inhuman law is not withdrawn”, said Sadaf Jafar after being released.

Congress city president Mukesh Singh Chauhan told PTI that both walked out of jail at about 10 am.

"I was there along with other party office bearers to receive them. Our party is against the CAA and against police brutality meted out to the peaceful protestors," he said.

Sadaf was arrested on December 19 and Darapuri the next day.

During the hearing on Friday, the court asked the prosecution for proof of involvement of Sadaf and Darapuri in the violence.

The prosecution informed the court there was no photograph to prove their direct involvement in the violence as there was “so much smoke billowing from vehicles burnt in the violence that no photograph could be taken.”

With PTI inputs