Karkardooma District Court accedes to Delhi Police’s request for additional time to respond to Umar Khalid’s bail plea in the Delhi riots case. Khalid, detained since September 2020, anticipates further arguments on March 21, 2024.
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DELHI: Today(14th March), At the Karkardooma District Court in Delhi, a recent development has occurred where the judiciary has allowed the Delhi Police more time to respond to Umar Khalid’s request for regular bail. Khalid, a notable individual, has been detained as an undertrial prisoner since September 2020, linked to the extensive conspiracy related to the Delhi riots case. This represents his second endeavor to obtain regular bail.
During the proceedings, Special Judge Sameer Bajpai acceded to the request for more time made by the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad, setting the new deadline for the police’s reply to March 18. The case is poised for further arguments and a rebuttal on March 21, 2024, highlighting the ongoing legal battle over Khalid’s involvement in the February 2020 Delhi riots, a significant event that has captured national attention.
The court’s decision came after the prosecution highlighted a recent change in the investigative team, with the previous Investigation Officer (IO) being transferred and the new IO assuming duties just a day prior to the hearing.
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In an interesting turn during the hearing, Umar Khalid’s counsel made a peculiar request for his client to be allowed to visit Jamia for a root canal treatment, citing inadequate dental care received in custody. The court, however, directed that Khalid be taken to Maulana Azad hospital instead, after the prosecution questioned the necessity of visiting a specific location for the treatment.
Umar Khalid had previously withdrawn his bail plea from the Supreme Court on February 14, following a strategic decision to refocus his legal efforts at the trial court level. This move was part of a broader legal strategy, as explained by his senior advocate Kapil Sibal, indicating a shift in Khalid’s approach to his defense.
According to police reports, Khalid was instrumental in mobilizing Muslim groups and planning large-scale disruptions during the visit of US President Trump to India. His actions, as alleged by the authorities, were part of a broader conspiracy to challenge and protest against governmental policies, particularly the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), leveraging the communal tensions for political ends.
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The charges against Khalid are severe, with the prosecution linking him to various groups and individuals involved in the riots, including the controversial meeting with Tahir Hussain and Khalid Saifi at Shaheen Bagh, which purportedly laid the groundwork for the subsequent violence. The chargesheet details Khalid’s alleged connections and activities, painting a picture of a premeditated effort to incite unrest and draw international attention to the protests against the CAA and NRC.
