Noida: The bail plea of an industrial worker arrested for his role in violence that broke out during the April 13 protest in the city for a hike in minimum wages was rejected by an additional sessions court on Wednesday.Judge Somprabha Mishra said given the evidence available in prosecution documents and the gravity of the case, there was insufficient ground to grant bail. The judge observed that Aman Soni was clearly seen in a video taking a lighter from his pocket to set a vehicle on fire during the protest.“The applicant has been identified based on CCTV footage and witnesses at the scene. He joined the mob, inciting others, and himself participated in the violent act, burning vehicles and injuring police personnel. The case involves largescale arson and vandalism in an industrial area, under the guise of a labour movement, causing damage to national property,” the judge observed.According to the FIR that was originally filed against 1,500 unknown people — the names of Soni and more than two dozen others were added after identification — violence broke out after a police team which was on duty in the area reached the Motherson premises in Sector 84, where a large number of workers had gathered and blocked the road in front of the gate, demanding wage hike, overtime and bonus.The prosecution argued claimed that while they were being persuaded to leave the site peacefully, a section of workers attacked the police with sticks and rods and threw bricks at them. This, it argued, was a pre-planned conspiracy.Soni, who is from Amethi, has been charged under BNS sections 109 (1) (attempt to murder), 191 (1, 2, 3) (armed rioting), 121(2) (grievous hurt to deter a public servant), 132 (assault/force to deter public servant), 333 (house-trespass to commit offence), 125 (act endangering life or safety), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 351 (3) (aggravated intimidation), 352 (provocation), 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy), 190 (liability of unlawful assembly member), 324 (4,5,6) (mischief & damage), and 326 (F/G) (arson)m, besides sections of Criminal Law Amendment Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.The prosecution argued that the rioters specifically targeted police vehicles on duty and personal vehicles of police officers. Vehicles belonging to SI Sushil Sharma, the personal vehicle of inspector Ranjit Kumar Singh, and a Bolero camper of the transport dept were burnt.Soni’s lawyers argued that he was innocent and did not participate in any protest, but the court cited the presence of video evidence to rule on bail.
