A Delhi court has denied bail to former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and co-accused Salim Malik and Athar Khan in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. The court held that a prima facie case exists against them and refused to take a different view despite bail granted to some co-accused earlier.
India has responded to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s note to jailed activist Umar Khalid, stressing that public representatives must respect the independence of the judiciary in other democracies. The government said expressing personal views on ongoing legal matters does not suit those holding public office.
A Delhi court ordered police verification of bail bonds and sureties of four accused granted bail by the Supreme Court in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, delaying their release by a day. The court said the verification will be completed before their release, while the matter is listed for further hearing on January 7.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan has strongly criticised the Supreme Court’s decision denying bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, calling it unfair and unjust. He said keeping them jailed for five years without trial based on protected witness statements makes a mockery of the right to life and liberty.
