New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to Delhi Police on a bail application filed by accused Mohd Saleem Khan, arrested under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in connection with the larger conspiracy leading to riots in February, 2020 in north east area of the national capital.
A Division Bench of Justices Mukta Gupta and Mini Pushkarna adjourned the matter for July 20.
Violence erupted during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the national capital in February, 2020.
Police had registered a case against Khan and others under UAPA and under Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for being the masterminds of the February 2020 riots, in which 53 people lost their lives and over 700 were injured.
After investigation, police filed a charge sheet against former JNU student leader Umar Khalid; Sharjeel Imam; United Against Hate activist Khalid Saifi; former Congress Councillor Ishrat Jahan; Pinjra Tod Activists Gulfisha Fatima, Safoora Zargar, Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, and former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain.
Saleem submitted in his bail application that he has been in custody for two years and his role in the case was based on a video footage and that he has already been granted bail in another case, which was also based on the same video footage.
Police have submitted that a large number of students, ex-students and other members have participated in the anti-CAA protests. Police alleged that the accused hatched a conspiracy by calling for a march, leading a mob, and instigating communal feelings.
Two bail applications of accused Khalid and Imam are already pending before the High Court in this case.
UNI XC RJ