Delhi Police has opposed former JNU student Umar Khalid’s bail plea, accusing him of spreading a false narrative on social media. Khalid, who has been in custody since his arrest in connection with a Delhi riots case, sought bail, citing a lack of evidence against him. The police argued that Khalid used various platforms to propagate misinformation and incite violence during the communal riots in Delhi. The court is set to hear further arguments from both sides before deciding on Khalid’s bail request.
NEW DELHI: On Tuesday (9th April): The Delhi Police presented arguments against the bail plea of Umar Khalid, a former JNU student accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case. Presenting their case against Khalid’s bail plea, the police argued that he utilized various online channels to advance his own agenda. These arguments were put forth before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai.
READ ALSO: Umar Khalid Seeks Bail in North East Delhi Violence Case
Umar Khalid was accused of being involved in a larger conspiracy behind the communal riots that took place in northeast Delhi in 2020. The charges against him include offenses under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad revealed that Khalid’s mobile phone data indicated his communication with actors, politicians, activists, and celebrities. He allegedly shared links from certain news portals that portrayed the Delhi Police in a negative light. Moreover, Khalid requested that these individuals, who possess social media followings, share the links on their respective platforms to amplify a specific narrative.
READ ALSO: Supreme Court Postpones Umar Khalid’s Bail Hearing to January 31
Referring to the conversations Khalid had with these individuals, Prasad argued that Khalid’s actions were part of a larger conspiracy. To support this claim, the Special Public Prosecutor played a video clip in court featuring Khalid’s father being interviewed by a news portal.
During the interview, Khalid’s father expressed a lack of faith in the Supreme Court and mentioned their preference for the trial court. Prasad asserted that such statements were an attempt to shape a narrative in Khalid’s favor.
The prosecution further highlighted that Khalid had urged members of a WhatsApp group to organize protests following specific proceedings in the Supreme Court. In response to Khalid’s plea for parity with other co-accused individuals who had been granted bail, the Special Public Prosecutor rejected the request.
READ ALSO: Supreme Court to Hear Umar Khalid’s Plea Challenging UAPA Provisions
Umar Khalid and several others have been charged under the anti-terror law UAPA, as well as various sections of the Indian Penal Code, for their alleged involvement in initiating the February 2020 riots. The riots occurred during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), resulting in the loss of 53 lives and leaving over 700 people injured.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for today to allow Khalid’s counsel to present a rebuttal.
READ PREVIOUS REPORTS ON UMAR KHALID
