The Delhi High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who are accused in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case related to the 2020 Delhi riots. A bench led by Justice Prathiba M Singh fixed September 21 as the next date of hearing.
The bail pleas were earlier scheduled for August 27 but could not be heard after the High Court declared a holiday. The matters were subsequently listed for Monday, August 31.
Delhi High Court Had Issued Notice to Police
On July 31, the High Court issued notice to the Delhi Police while hearing Khalid’s bail plea. The development came after the Karkardooma Court rejected fresh bail applications filed by Khalid and Imam on July 4.
Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai had said that the trial court was bound by the Supreme Court’s January 5 order while dealing with the fresh bail pleas. The court had also observed that the applications were not maintainable before the trial court in view of the Supreme Court’s order.
During the proceedings, senior advocate Trideep Pais, appearing for Khalid, argued that the Supreme Court had subsequently questioned the dismissal of bail pleas in the Andrabi case. He contended that the earlier direction suggesting that Khalid and Imam could approach the court again after one year, if witness statements had not been recorded, should no longer apply.
Supreme Court Had Denied Bail to Khalid and Imam
On January 5, the Supreme Court rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots conspiracy case. At the same time, the court granted bail to five other accused — Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed and Mohammad Salim Khan.
The Supreme Court later granted six months’ interim bail to Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmed on May 22.
Several other accused in the case, including Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, have also secured bail.
18 Accused Named in UAPA Chargesheet
The Delhi Police has filed a chargesheet against 18 people under the UAPA in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots.
The accused include Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jahan, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Safoora Zargar, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Mohammad Salim Khan, Salim Malik, Athar Khan, Faizan Khan, Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita.
The Delhi riots in February 2020 left at least 53 people dead and hundreds injured.
Tahir Hussain’s Bail Plea Also Pending
The UAPA case also involves former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, who has challenged the rejection of his bail plea before the Delhi High Court. His matter is also scheduled for hearing on September 21.
Hussain has remained in custody for around four years and nine months in connection with the Delhi riots case. A lower court had earlier rejected his bail, observing that the allegations against him were prima facie serious.
The prosecution has alleged that Khalid and Imam were among the key conspirators in the riots. The accused have denied the allegations. The cases remain pending before the courts.
