New Delhi, The Delhi High Court on Monday listed for hearing on September 30 bail pleas by activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in a case under the anti-terror law UA over the “larger conspiracy” behind the February 2020 riots in north-east Delhi.
A bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Dinesh Bhatt deferred the hearing after the Delhi Police counsel sought an adjournment. Activist Khalid Saifi and former A councillor Tahir Hussain, among others, were also booked for alleged involvement in the larger conspiracy case, being investigated by Delhi Police’s Special Cell. Police have also stated that the present bail pleas are in the teeth of the top court’s January 5 order, which asked them to seek release only after completion of the examination of protected witnesses or after one year, whichever is earlier.
The Delhi Police has opposed the pleas in the high court, asserting that the two are “masterminds” of the riots. Arguing that they cannot seek bail on parity with other co-accused in the case, police have stated that the Supreme Court has earlier categorised them as being “command authority” and ruled that their “risk profiles” justified “continuing detention”.
The court on Monday also deferred hearing of the bail plea by Tahir Hussain in the case, and listed it in November. Khalid and Imam had moved the high court earlier this year after their bail applications were dismissed by the trial court for the third time on July 4.
