The Delhi High Court has rejected United Against Hate founder Khalid Saifi’s petition to end the attempted murder case against him related to the 2020 Delhi riots. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri upheld the lower court’s decision, which had earlier framed charges of attempted murder against Saifi, Ishrat Jahan, and 11 others.
Charges of Attempted Murder Upheld
In January, the lower court had charged Saifi and others with attempted murder but acquitted them under the Arms Act. Saifi argued in court that, as he was neither found with a weapon nor accused of firing, the case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC should not apply. However, the court maintained the charge, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations.
Police Present WhatsApp Evidence
The Delhi Police opposed Saifi’s bail, citing evidence from WhatsApp messages exchanged among the accused. The messages, they argued, linked Saifi to a planned road blockade and violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad countered Saifi’s claim of no connection with co-accused Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, asserting that evidence linked Saifi to the unrest.
Saifi, along with Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, faces charges under the UAPA and IPC for allegedly masterminding the February 2020 riots, which left 53 dead and over 700 injured. Saifi has been in custody since March 2020.
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