Delhi riots 2020: Police oppose bail plea of ​​activist Umar Khalid and others

Delhi Police on Thursday, November 20, strongly opposed the bail plea of ​​activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others in the February 2020 riots case, saying it has now become a trend for doctors and engineers to get involved in anti-national activities.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for Delhi Police, told a bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and NV Anjaria that the accused are responsible for the delay in the trial and they cannot take advantage of it.

Raju showed the videos of Imam giving “provocative speeches” against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the apex court.

Read more: Delhi 2020 riots were an attack on nation’s sovereignty: Delhi Police tells SC

The video shows Imam giving speeches in Chakhand, Jamia, Aligarh and Asansol in 2019 and 2020, before the riots in Delhi in February 2020.

Pointing out that Imam is an engineering graduate, the lawyer said, “Nowadays the trend is that doctors, engineers are not doing their profession but are engaged in anti-national activities.” “This is not an ordinary protest. These are violent protests. They are talking about blockade,” Raju said. At this point, Justice Kumar asked whether the speeches were part of the chargesheet, to which Raju replied in the affirmative.

Khalid, Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider and Rehman were booked under provisions of the UAPA, the stringent anti-terrorism law and the erstwhile IPC for allegedly “masterminding” the 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.

Read more: February 2020 riots: SC issues notice to Delhi Police on bail plea of ​​Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others

The violence broke out during widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Hearing in the case is going on from 2 pm.