The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to Delhi Police seeking their response to a bail petition filed by the accused in the 2020 Delhi riots under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The bench, comprising Justices Arvind Kumar and NV Anjaria, scheduled the next hearing for October 27.
Senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the petitioners, requested that notices be issued to the authorities.
Kapil Sibal, also appearing for the accused, urged the court to hear the matter before Diwali, citing prolonged incarceration.
The petition was filed on behalf of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Mohammad Salim Khan, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Athar Khan, and Khalid Saifi.
The Delhi High Court had previously refused bail to nine accused, including Imam, citing the gravity of the offences.
In total, 17 individuals face charges in the case, including Tahir Hussain, Ishrat Jahan, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Saifura Jargar, Faizan Khan, and Natasha Narwal.
Petitioners’ lawyers argued that the trial had dragged on for years without finalising charges. They contended that prolonged pre-trial detention warranted consideration for bail.
However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta maintained that delays could not justify bail in matters involving national security.
He described the riots as a ‘planned and organised attempt’ to damage India’s international image.
According to him, Imam and Khalid deliberately incited unrest to malign the country globally. He added that no accused involved in anti-national activities could claim bail entitlement.
The riots, which erupted in north-east Delhi in February 2020, left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.
Victims included 38 Muslims and 15 Hindus. The investigation, Mehta said, was among the most thorough conducted, with 58 witness statements recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC.
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