New Delhi, September 21: The Delhi High Court on Monday deferred the hearing of bail pleas filed by activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in a UAPA case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The matter will now be heard on September 30.
A division bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Dinesh Bhatt adjourned the proceedings after Delhi Police sought more time. Special Public Prosecutor Madhukar Pandey informed the court that Additional Solicitor General S V Raju was unavailable due to health reasons.
“Matter is adjourned to September 30,” the bench said.
Khalid and Imam have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy behind the riots, which claimed 53 lives and left more than 700 people injured.
The violence broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020 amid protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Khalid Saifi and former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, among others, are also accused in the case, which is being investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The court on Monday also deferred Tahir Hussain’s bail plea and listed it for hearing in November.
Khalid and Imam approached the High Court after their bail applications were rejected by the trial court for the third time on July 4. Imam was arrested in August 2020, while Khalid was arrested in September 2020.
Delhi Police has opposed their bail pleas and alleged that the two were among the key conspirators in the case. The prosecution has also argued that they cannot seek bail on parity with certain co-accused.
The legal proceedings have previously reached the Supreme Court, which in January upheld the High Court’s decision concerning Khalid and Imam while granting relief to some other accused in the case.
The Supreme Court had also noted a prima facie case under the UAPA against Khalid and Imam, according to the court proceedings cited in the case.
The latest hearing is scheduled for September 30, when the High Court will consider the bail pleas further.
