New Delhi: In an unusual move, a Delhi court has asked a murder accused to install Aarogya Setu app on his phone while giving orders to release him on interim bail.
Additional Sessions Judge Naveen Kumar Kashyap allowed interim bail plea of accused Ravi Dhika, who was seeking bail on the ground that he has to take care of his ailing wife as there was no one else he could depend on. The bail plea was allowed on various conditions including furnishing a personal and surety bond of Rs 20,000 each.
Among other conditions was the direction to install Aarogya Setu app on his mobile phone, to keep the GPS location and Bluetooth of his mobile phone on at all times during the period of release.
“Applicant is further directed to install Aarogya Setu app on his mobile phone and will keep location, GPS as well as Bluetooth on at all time during the period of such interim bail,” the court said.
The conditions were imposed after police apprised the court that the contention made by the accused is true. The court also asked him not to influence the witnesses, tamper with evidence, or flee from justice.
What the court said in its order
The court mentioned that a holistic approach is being taken in view of prevailing circumstances. And, therefore, once the interim bail of accused expires, the accused will have to surrender back in concerned jail.
“It may also be noted that earlier court was ordering, in appropriate cases, physical attendence of such accused before SHO physical, e.g. once a week. In today’s corona times, court should not and thus do not direct the physical attendence in police station, including having regard to nature of corona infection, social distancing norms as well as due to the inconvenience which may be faced by accused due to lockdown,” the judgement read.
The court directed the accused to mark his appearance to SHO concerned by sharing his mobile location as this was the viable alternative to physical appearance. Further, when the accused surrenders back to jail, he should assist in screening against corona infection, it said.
The man was facing trial under charges dealing with murder, attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Aarogya Setu app enables people to themselves assess the risk for their catching the coronavirus infection. The app makes its calculations based on a person’s interaction with others, using Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence. (ANI)
