Yesterday (May 10th), Salim Malik implicated in the Delhi riots conspiracy case from February 2020, retracted his bail petition before the Supreme Court. The Delhi High Court had on April 22 denied bail to Malik, after noting that he attended meetings where aspects of riot-like violence and burning of the national capital were openly discussed.
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NEW DELHI: Salim Malik, an accused implicated in the conspiracy case surrounding the Delhi riots of February 2020, opted to withdraw his bail petition before the esteemed Supreme Court on Friday.
This decision came to fruition before a Bench comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal, who duly acceded to Malik’s request, effectively putting an end to the legal trajectory of his bail plea.
The backdrop of Malik’s bail plea traces back to the Delhi High Court‘s ruling on April 22, where his appeal for bail was met with denial. The High Court, in its verdict, underscored Malik’s purported involvement in gatherings where discussions pertaining to riot-like violence and the incitement of chaos within the national capital were purportedly openly deliberated upon.
Malik’s tryst with legal entanglements began when he was apprehended by the Delhi Police on June 25, 2020, under the auspices of various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the provisions delineated within the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The crux of the prosecution’s argument rested on the premise that Malik was an integral cog in a premeditated conspiracy aimed at orchestrating disruptive “chakka jam” activities and preplanned protests across Delhi. These actions, as per the assertions of law enforcement, were purportedly intended to escalate into widespread violence and rioting within the capital.
The rejection of Malik’s bail plea by the trial court in October 2022 reverberated within legal circles, with the court citing his purported attendance at “conspiratorial meetings” as a critical factor in its decision-making process.
Echoing the sentiments of the trial court, the Delhi High Court not only upheld the denial of bail but also expounded on the broader ramifications of public demonstrations spiraling into violent spectacles, transcending the realms of fundamental rights to constitute punishable offenses under the purview of law.
However, when Malik’s plea found its way to the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court, Justice Trivedi, during the course of deliberations, expressed reservations on the necessity of intervening with the rulings issued by the lower courts.
Consequently, in light of the prevailing circumstances, Malik opted to withdraw his petition, marking a pivotal moment in the legal saga ensnaring him.
Interestingly, Malik’s case is not an isolated incident within the annals of recent legal history. His decision to withdraw his bail plea echoes similar actions undertaken by other accused individuals, such as Professor Hany Babu in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case and Umar Khalid in the Delhi riots case.
In each instance, the common thread binding these decisions was a perceived shift in the prevailing circumstances, prompting the accused to rescind their bail pleas before the courts of law.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Delhi Riots
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