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A Delhi court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of Umar Khalid, an accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy’ case.
Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student and activist, has been in jail since September 2020. He is accused of being one of the main conspirators behind the riots, which left 53 people dead and over 200 injured.
Khalid’s lawyer, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, had argued that his client was not a flight risk and that he had strong roots in the community. He also said that the charges against Khalid were politically motivated and that there was no evidence to support them.
However, the court rejected Sibal’s arguments and said that it was not convinced that Khalid was not a flight risk. The court also said that the charges against Khalid were serious and that he could face a long prison sentence if convicted.
Khalid’s rejection of bail is a setback for his legal team. He is likely to remain in jail for the foreseeable future, as his trial is expected to take several months.
The Delhi riots were one of the worst communal riots in India in recent years. The riots began on February 23, 2020, after a clash between pro- and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters.
The violence quickly spread to other parts of Northeast Delhi, and over the next three days, mobs of Hindus and Muslims clashed in the streets.
The riots left 53 people dead and over 200 injured. Hundreds of homes, shops, and vehicles were also destroyed.
The Delhi Police have arrested dozens of people in connection with the riots, including Khalid. Many of those arrested have been charged with rioting, arson, and murder.
The trials of those accused of participating in the Delhi riots are expected to take several months. It is likely that many of those accused will be convicted and sentenced to prison.
Source: Court rejects Umar Khalid’s bail plea in Northeast Delhi riots case