In a new development in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, the Supreme Court on Monday postponed the hearing of bail applications of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, and three others to 31st October, as the Additional Solicitor General, SV Raju, who is representing Delhi Police, requested more time to submit a counter affidavit.
“We made it clear. You [ASG] may be appearing for the first time. We granted sufficient time,” the court said to Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, as reported by the Bar and Bench.
“On Friday, you ensure you have proper instructions…we will hear it. See if you can, Mr. Raju…if something can be done…this is only about consideration of bail. See, 5 years are over already,” the bench said.
The accused in the case are Gulfisha Fatima, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Isharat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shabad Ahmed, Safoora Zargar, Faizan Khan, Devangana Kalita, and Natasha Narwal. Out of the accused, Asif Iqbal, Safoora Zargar, Devangana Kalita, and Natasha Narwal have been granted bail.
The Supreme Court further told ASG to argue tomorrow or the day after tomorrow; the ASG requested more time to respond.
“No, no, argue the day after with a counter. Mr. [Kapil] Sibal said before Diwali, and we said no,” the court said.
“What is the question of a counter-affidavit in a bail matter?” When the ASG sought two weeks’ time to file the counter, Justice Kumar said, “You file the counter. But, we will not give you two weeks,” the court says, as reported by Live Law.
Also Read: https://foej.in/sharjeel-imam-case-delhi-court-denies-statutory-bail
The petitioners in the case are the student activists who were one of the main organizers of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest. The petitioners are facing charges under UAPA and the Indian Penal Code for allegedly conspiring in the Northeast communal riots of 2020.
