Umar Khalid, 9 others refused bail in 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case

Notably, Saifi, Gulfisha, Md Saleem Khan and Shifa ur Rehman had completed arguments for bail twice earlier before the Delhi HC, before two different benches. However, the judges, after being appointed as Chief Justices of other High Courts, did not deliver their verdict. The four accused argued for bail a third time before Justices Chawla and Kaur.

Another division bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar also rejected the bail of Tasleem Ahmed.

In open court, it pronounced that his “appeal is dismissed”. A detailed order is awaited.

Tasleem 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.

In March 2022, a sessions court in Karkardooma had rejected his bail plea. The trial court had primarily referred to statements by protected witnesses to prima facie conclude that allegations against Tasleem are true.

He had again moved a bail plea, which a sessions court in Karkardooma rejected a second time in February 2024. He sought bail primarily on the ground of parity with other co-accused who were released on bail.

Eighteen people accused in the case are facing allegations of pre-planned conspiracy to allegedly cause riots in Northeast Delhi between February 23 and 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.