HC denies suspension of sentence to Red Fort attack convict

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today denied suspension of sentence to Sadaqat Ali, a convict in the Red Fort attack case.

A Division Bench of Justices R S Sodhi and P K Bhasin refused to grant Sadaqat suspension of his sentence to attend to his ailing wife and issued notice to Delhi Police to file a reply by August 28.

Sadaqat was sentenced to seven year imprisonment under Sections 118 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life) and 216 (harbouring an offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered) of the Indian Penal Code.

Counsel for Sadaqat, R M Tufail, argued that he should be allowed suspension of his sentence so that he could attend to his ailing wife who is to be operated upon on August 18.

The hearing also witnessed an exchange of words between Justice Sodhi and Mr Tufail.

Justice R S Sodhi called the counsel a leader, accusing him of delivering a speech at a wrong platform.

Mr Tufail told UNI later that he could speak only about law and nothing else. But, if ''prejudices started influencing judgements'' he could not hold his despair and frustration.

The Red Fort attack on December 22, 2000 had reportedly claimed lives of three army personnel.

A Delhi court had, last year, sentenced Ashfaq to death and awarded life term to Nazir Ahmed Quasid and Farooq Ahmed Quasid and seven years' imprisonment to Rehmana Yusuf Farooqui, Babar Mohsin and Sadaqat Ali in the case.

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