The Supreme Court will today hear Delhi Police’s submissions opposing bail for Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others accused under UAPA in the 2020 Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy’ case. Investigators allege a pre-planned network involving coordinated protests and strategic mobilisation.
File photo of activist Umar Khalid being escorted by police. (ANI)
The Supreme Court will on Tuesday continue hearing a set of bail petitions filed by student leaders and activists booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for what investigators describe as a “larger conspiracy’’ behind the 2020 North-East Delhi violence.
Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima, Sharjeel Imam and several others remain in custody in connection with the case.
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According to the Supreme Court’s causelist, a Bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria will hear the next round of submissions from the Delhi Police on November 18. The agency has already filed a lengthy counter-affidavit opposing the bail of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
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In its reply, the Delhi Police has alleged that Khalid, Imam and their associates had carefully crafted and executed a plan to trigger unrest during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests. Investigators say that material collected since December 2019, including chats, call records and witness statements, places Umar Khalid at the centre of a coordinated mobilisation effort.
The affidavit claims that Khalid played the role of “mentor” to many young activists, helping create protest networks, choose demonstration sites, and coordinate messaging in the lead-up to the violence. Sharjeel Imam, it adds, acted under Khalid’s direction and was deeply involved in what investigators describe as the “first phase” of the unrest in December 2019.
Police have reiterated their long-standing stance that the alleged conspiracy was timed around US President Donald Trump’s February 2020 visit to India, with the stated aim of drawing global attention and framing the CAA as a targeted attack on Muslims.
“This was done to draw the attention of ‘international media’ and to make the issue of CAA a global issue by portraying it as an act pogrom of the Muslim community in India. The issue of CAA was carefully chosen to serve as a ‘radicalising catalyst’ camouflaged in the name of ‘peaceful protest’,” read the affidavit.
The Delhi High Court had earlier refused bail to both Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, along with several co-accused, holding that their role as alleged conspirators required further scrutiny during trial.
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