The Supreme Court sought a response from the Delhi Police on Tasleem Ahmed’s bail plea in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale issued notice after his bail was earlier rejected under UAPA.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court requested a response from the Delhi Police regarding a bail application filed by Tasleem Ahmed, who is an accused in the conspiracy case related to the 2020 Delhi Riots.
A notice was issued by a bench consisting of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale.
The Delhi High Court had previously denied bail to Ahmed, who is charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), in September of last year. He was initially denied bail by the trial court in 2022.
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Other individuals charged in the conspiracy case include Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, Abdul Khalid Saifi, and Gulfisha Fatima.
Ahmed’s case was separated from the others at the request of his counsel.
Ahmed claimed that he was merely participating in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) but was arrested on terrorism charges on June 24, 2020. He urged the High Court to grant him bail, citing delays in the trial and the time already spent in custody.
In the Supreme Court, Ahmed was represented by Advocates Mehmood Pracha and RHA Sikander.
Tasleem Ahmed was arrested on June 24, 2020, on charges of being part of a larger conspiracy behind the Delhi riots. According to the prosecution, he played a role in orchestrating the violence during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests. His case was de-tagged from other accused on the request of his counsel, thereby making his bail plea subject to independent consideration.
The 2020 Delhi riots occurred in February 2020 in the northeastern parts of the national capital, leading to widespread violence, communal clashes, and significant loss of life and property. The violence, which lasted several days, resulted in the deaths of at least 53 people and left around 700 others injured.
The riots were triggered amid protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and counter-protests, eventually escalating into violent clashes between different communities.
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In the aftermath, the Delhi Police registered several FIRs, including a major one related to an alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the riots.
This particular conspiracy case was filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) a stringent anti-terror law and several student activists, civil society members, and political figures were named as accused.
One such accused is Tasleem Ahmed, who was arrested on June 24, 2020, for allegedly being involved in this broader conspiracy.
The charges against him and others include instigating violence and planning riots through protests and road blockades.