Delhi riots larger conspiracy case: HC refuses early hearing on Shifa Ur Rehman’s bail plea

In his application, Rehman submitted that his mother is a heart patient who had undergone stent surgery and was admitted to a hospital with typhoid on October 9 and discharged on October 14.

“It is the humble submission of the applicant that since his mother is in the last leg of her life, and the pending adjudication on the bail hearing…will lead to deprivation of social connect with the family,” Rehman’s application read.

Rehman has been in jail since April 26, 2020, and his bail plea before the Delhi high court has been heard twice—by two division benches. A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Rajnish Bhatnagar had reserved its judgment but did not pronounce it.

The bench of Justices Chawla and Kaur is now due to take up the matter on November 25.

Rehman and the other accused are facing allegations of a pre-planned conspiracy to incite riots in northeast Delhi between February 23 and 25 in 2020, with charges filed under the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the Arms Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

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