The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (September 2) gave a big blow to student activists Sharjil Imam, Omar Khalid and other accused in the case related to Delhi riots. The court dismissed the bail plea of ​​all the accused in the UAPA case related to Delhi riots in 2020.

A bench of Justice Naveen Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur reserved their verdict on 9 July after hearing the arguments of all the parties. Shaizil Imam and Omar Khalid along with Mohammad Salim Khan, Shifa ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Miran Haider, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Gulfisha Fatima reserved their verdict. The court dismissed everyone’s petition.

When was the arrest?

What is the allegation?

According to the news agency PTI, the prosecution strongly argued that it is not only a case of riots, but is a case where the riots were already made with a horrific motive and thought conspiracy.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that it was a conspiracy to discredit India globally and could not be the basis of only long imprisoned bail.

In the riots in February 2020, 53 people died and more than 700 people were injured. The violence erupted during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Civil Register (NRC).

The bail petitions of the Sharjil Imam, Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima and other accused were pending in the High Court since 2022 and from time to time various benches heard them.

Delhi news: The bail plea of ​​Khalid Saifi, accused in the ‘conspiracy’ case of 2020 Delhi riots, was strongly debated. Senior advocate Rebecca John appeared in the High Court on behalf of Khalid. He said that protesting in democracy cannot be terrorism. Justice Naveen Chawla and Shalinder Kaur were hearing on bail.

Rebecca John said, “If I join any performance in places like Jantar Mantar or Gandhi Peace Foundation, does it mean that I am plotting.” He said that it is the right of every citizen to protest and it is against the basic principles of justice to present it as a crime.

Khalid Saifi’s strong debate on bail

Rebecca John argued that no weapon was recovered from Khalid Saifi. No illegal funding was found. Nevertheless, he has been kept in jail for five years. He raised the question that when the Delhi Police did not find any concrete evidence against Khalid, then why delay in granting bail. The court was told that Khalid Saifi was on a wheelchair in the first appearance. He had plaster on his body. Rebecca John said that wheelchair and plaster shows what happened in custody with Khalid Saifi. Is it not enough to shock the court conscience?

‘Is it a crime to disagree with the government?’

Khalid Saifi’s lawyer said that if a WhatsApp chat or conversation is with the prosecution, it should be proved in the case. But it is not right to keep someone in jail for years by applying UAPA. He questioned whether it has now become a crime to disagree with the government in democracy. Explain that the High Court is hearing the bail petitions of other accused including Umar Khalid, Shajil Imam, Mohammad Salim Khan, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed, Atar Khan, Khalid Saifi and Gulfisha Fatima in the Delhi riot case. The next hearing will be held on 16 April.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlsmsqdvkx4

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