The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed bail applications filed by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and seven other accused in the 2020 North East Delhi riots conspiracy case.
A division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur reserved its order on July 9 after hearing arguments from the counsels, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad. The bench on Tuesday dismissed the appeals.
The Solicitor General argued that in UAPA matters concerning national security, bail cannot be granted on the ground of delay in trial. He pointed to speeches and statements attributed to the accused as indicative of a wider conspiracy.
During submissions, the SG cited portions of speeches allegedly by Sharjeel Imam, including references to disrupting the “chicken neck” and remarks that “nothing would happen unless 100–200 people died.” The SG also told the court that some accused had said they were ready for riots if required to protest the CAA and NRC.
Prosecution told the court that the conspiracy included plans for a chakka jam and efforts to dislocate CCTV coverage. It also referred to the use of catapults, stones, bricks and petrol bombs, and alleged that five accused financed the riots. A protected witness’s statement about a meeting attended by Umar Khalid and others was also relied upon.
The appeals dismissed on Tuesday include those of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima and Shadab Ahmed. They had challenged trial court orders that denied them bail, citing the UAPA-bar.
Earlier developments in the wider case saw Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal and Asif Iqbal Tanha granted regular bail by the Delhi High Court on June 15, 2021. The accused Ishrat Jahan was granted bail by the trial court.
The prosecution says the case concerns a larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots. According to Delhi Police, 53 people died and hundreds were injured in the North East Delhi violence. More than 700 FIRs were registered across police stations in the area and beyond.
Eighteen accused have been charge-sheeted under the UAPA in the larger conspiracy case, while two accused remain absconding. The matter is currently at the stage of arguments on charges.
— ANI