The Delhi High Court will hear Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s arguments opposing the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Both are accused under UAPA in the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 North East Delhi riots.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is opposing the bail applications of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others implicated in the 2020 North East Delhi Riots case.
This case involves allegations of a broader conspiracy, with 18 individuals charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), while two are currently absconding.
The division bench, comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur, postponed the hearing to July 9 at the request of the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for the Delhi Police.
SPP Amit Prasad appeared in person, while SG Mehta participated via video conferencing.
The High Court is reviewing the bail pleas of Khalid, Imam, and others, who have challenged the trial court’s decisions to deny their bail, citing restrictions under UAPA.
The Delhi High Court, On June 15, 2021, granted regular bail to Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, and Asif Iqbal Tanha, allowing their appeals against the trial court’s ruling. The trial court also approved bail for Ishrat Jahan.
The accused are alleged to have conspired to incite the riots, which resulted in 53 deaths and numerous injuries in February 2020. The Delhi Police assert that Khalid and Imam were principal conspirators, referencing evidence such as WhatsApp communications and public speeches.
Over 700 FIRs have been filed against various individuals in multiple police stations throughout North East Delhi and beyond.
The Delhi High Court has previously challenged the Delhi Police’s methods, questioning whether organizing protests is sufficient grounds to apply UAPA charges and demanding clear evidence to substantiate their claims.
The case is currently at the stage of arguments regarding the charges.
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