Overview
- Justices Aravind Kumar and N. V. Anjaria heard bail appeals from Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, and Mohd. Saleem Khan.
- Counsels said there is no material linking the appellants to violence or incitement, stressing prolonged incarceration and delay, including notification of investigation completion only on September 4, 2024.
- For Shadab Ahmed, the defence noted his addition in a second supplementary chargesheet and challenged reliance on protected witnesses codenamed Radium and Sodium, a barely recognisable photograph, and police depositions.
- The Delhi Police maintains the riots were the result of a premeditated larger conspiracy, citing an FIR under the IPC and UAPA and attributing 53 deaths and hundreds of injuries to the 2020 violence.
- The appeals challenge the Delhi High Court’s September 2 bail denials, with the Supreme Court now set to hear the police response on Monday.