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Bit surprising I am charged only in one of 751 FIRs filed in Delhi riots: Umar Khalid in Supreme Court bail hearing

Umar Khalid bail hearing, Delhi riots 2020 case: Senior advocate Kapil Sibal opposed Delhi Police's claims of conspiracy against Umar Khalid apart from arguing that he was not in Delhi when riots in the national capital took place in February, 2020.

Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal opposed Delhi Polices' claims in the Delhi riots UAPA case during Umar Khalid bail hearing.

Umar Khalid bail hearing: Responding to Delhi Police’s claims, Umar Khalid on Friday argued there are 751 FIRs lodged in connection with the February 2020 Delhi riots but he has been accused in only one FIR while challenging the conspiracy charge against him.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khalid, “There are 751 FIRs. I am charged in one. If it’s a conspiracy, it’s a bit surprising — if I am responsible for the riots.”

Sibal further pointed out that Khalid was not present in Delhi when the riots took place and there were no recoveries of any kind of weapons, arms, acid or any incriminating material made from him or at his instance.

“If am not there, how can I be connected?” Sibal asked.

He added, “Not a single witness has given any statement that connects the petitioner to the any actual incident of violence that ensued in north-east Delhi.”

Also Read | https://indianexpress.com/article/legal-news/umar-khalid-bail-a-timeline-of-hearings-events-in-uapa-case-against-him-10337316/

Sibal further said that Khalid faced one more FIR which was registered by Khajuri Khas Police in connection with the violence but he was initially granted bail and then discharged in the case in 2022.

“In the entire speech, I have said nothing. It’s a public speech. I have said nothing about any acts of violence, riots, instigating people. A bare perusal of the speech invokes Gandhian principals of non-violence and makes reference to the Constitution of India,” Sibal said referring to Khalid’s speech made in Amravati, Maharashtra in February 2020.

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Delhi Police has claimed Khalid played a leading role in “drawing sinister communal objectives at the cost of human lives” by delivering a speech at an anti-CAA protest rally in Amravati.

On October 30, Delhi police filed an affidavit in the top court saying the riots were a “criminal conspiracy hatched for execution of riots intended for achieving the final ‘regime change’ goal”.

The affidavit, filed in response to Khalid’s bail plea, added that “at every stage of the trial”, the petitioners “tried to derail and delay the proceedings, in as much as even during the stage of 207; the accused created hurdles by filing frivolous applications”.

On October 27, the Supreme court declined to grant two weeks to the Delhi Police for responding to the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, and others, saying, ‘Gave sufficient time’.

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Three other accused namely Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and Asif Iqbal Tanha were granted bail by the Delhi High Court in June, 2021, whereas a fourth accused and former Congress councillor, Ishrat Jahan, was granted bail in March 2022.

Khalid was arrested in September 2020 under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged role in the conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots in which 53 people were killed and hundreds injured .

Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan is the Head-Legal Project for Indian Express Digital, based in New Delhi. With over 14 years of professional experience, Aamir's background as a legal professional and a veteran journalist allows him to bridge the gap between complex judicial proceedings and public understanding. Expertise Specialized Legal Authority: Aamir holds an LLB from CCS University, providing him with the formal legal training necessary to analyze constitutional matters, statutes, and judicial precedents with technical accuracy. Experience Press Trust of India (PTI): Served as News Editor, where he exercised final editorial judgment on legal stories emerging from the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts for the nation's primary news wire. Bar and Bench: As Associate Editor, he led the vanguard of long-form legal journalism, conducting exclusive interviews and producing deep-dive investigative series on the most pressing legal issues of the day. Foundational Reporting: His expertise is built on years of "boots-on-the-ground" reporting for The Indian Express (Print) and The Times of India, covering the legal beats in the high-intensity hubs of Mumbai and Delhi. Multidisciplinary Academic Background: * LLB, CCS University. PG Diploma in Journalism (New Media), Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. BSc in Life Sciences and Chemistry, Christ College, Bangalore—an asset for reporting on environmental law, patent litigation, and forensic evidence. ... Read More

Richa Sahay

Richa Sahay is a Legal Correspondent for The Indian Express, where she focuses on simplifying the complexities of the Indian judicial system. A law postgraduate, she leverages her advanced legal education to bridge the gap between technical court rulings and public understanding, ensuring that readers stay informed about the rapidly evolving legal landscape. Expertise Advanced Legal Education: As a law postgraduate, Richa possesses the academic depth required to interpret intricate statutes and constitutional nuances. Her background allows her to provide more than just summaries; she offers context-driven analysis of how legal changes impact the average citizen. Specialized Beat: She operates at the intersection of law and public policy, focusing on: Judicial Updates: Providing timely reports on orders from the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts. Legal Simplification: Translating dense "legalese" into accessible, engaging narratives without sacrificing factual accuracy. Legislative Changes: Monitoring new bills, amendments, and regulatory shifts that shape Indian society. ... Read More