Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy’ case: HC refuses bail to accused Tasleem Ahmed

A division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur is due to pronounce the verdict on the bail pleas of nine other accused in the case.

Ahmad was arrested in April 2020 in another case and was then arrested in the larger conspiracy case by the Delhi Police Special Cell in June 2020.

Eighteen people accused in the case are facing allegations of pre-planned conspiracy to allegedly cause riots in Northeast Delhi between February 23, 2020 and February 25, 2020, with offences registered under the IPC, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (PDPP) Act, Arms Act, and the UAPA.

An FIR was registered by the Delhi Crime Branch in March 2020. The investigation is being undertaken by the Special Cell.

Among the 18 accused, activist Safoora Zargar was released on bail in June 2020, and another accused, Faizan, was granted bail in October 2020.

Three other activists — Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, and Asif Iqbal Tanha — were granted bail in June 2021 by the Delhi HC. Former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan was granted bail in this case in March 2022.

Another accused, Saleem Malik, was refused bail by the Delhi HC in April 2024. Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain too remains in custody in this case.

According to the Special Cell, the riots were the result of a months-long “deep-rooted” conspiracy allegedly hatched after the Citizenship Amendment Bill was approved by the Cabinet in December 2019. The “conspiracy” here involves the creation of 23 protest sites (which operated 24×7) in “Muslim-majority areas” close to mosques and main roads.

From the homepage

Trump again slams ‘one-sided’ US-India trade, says tariffs made it a ‘disaster’

The ‘noise’ in April-June GDP: Taking a closer look at the numbers

Afghanistan Earthquake Today Live Updates: At least 800 killed, 2,500 injured as UN delivers emergency aid to earthquake-struck Afghanistan; PM Modi extends support