2020 riots: In Delhi HC, arguments to start afresh on bail pleas of Gulfisha, Saifi
A division bench of Justices Suresh Kait and Girish Kathpalia Thursday posted bail pleas of nine accused in the ‘larger conspiracy’ case of the Northeast Delhi riots, including that of former JNU student Umar Khalid, for October 7.
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Posting the matters for October 7, the bench of Justices Kait and Kathpalia permitted the parties to file their written submissions.
More than three months since a division bench of the Delhi High Court completed hearing the arguments in the bail pleas of two people accused in a 2020 Delhi riots case — anti-CAA activists Abdul Khalid Saifi and Gulfisha Fatima — a reconstituted bench is now due to hear the matter from scratch.
A division bench of Justices Suresh Kait and Girish Kathpalia Thursday posted bail pleas of nine accused in the ‘larger conspiracy’ case of the Northeast Delhi riots, including that of former JNU student Umar Khalid, for October 7.
Notably, the bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Rajnish Bhatnagar had heard the bail pleas of Saifi and Fatima between May 2022 and October 2023. The bench had changed to Justices Kait and Manoj Jain from January until July this year. According to sources, the arguments were completed in Fatima and Saifi’s case over three months ago.
Among those whose bail pleas would be heard include Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Shadab Ahmed and Athar Khan. Besides, an appeal by the State against bail granted to another accused, Ishrat Jahan, in the case will also be heard.
Posting the matters for October 7, the bench of Justices Kait and Kathpalia permitted the parties to file their written submissions.
Apart from Khalid, who moved the HC for bail for a second time after a division bench, on October 18, 2022, had refused to release him, the other bail pleas have been pending before the HC since 2022.
After the HC had refused bail to Khalid earlier, he had moved the Supreme Court. However, he subsequently withdrew his plea, citing a change in circumstances. Earlier this year, on May 28, a Delhi court in Karkardooma had rejected Khalid’s bail plea a second time. The HC bench of Justices Kait and Kathpalia had issued notice to the State in Khalid’s plea on July 24.
On the same day, Saifi and Fatima’s counsel had also requested before a division bench of Justices Kait and Jain to reserve the two matters for judgment as arguments from both sides had been completed. Now the two matters have been brought before the division bench of Justices Kait and Kathpalia, effectively meaning that the two accused have to make their submissions afresh.
Khalid and the other accused are facing allegations of pre-planned conspiracy to allegedly cause riots in Northeast Delhi between February 23-25, 2020.
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