What is the basis of making me accused in riots case, Khalid asks in Delhi HC

Former JNU student Umar Khalid seeks bail, questions basis of being accused in UAPA case related to Delhi riots.

Former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid on Friday asked the police, during a hearing in the Delhi High Court, the basis on which he had been named an accused in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case related to the “larger conspiracy” behind the February 2020 north-east Delhi riots.

Senior advocate Trideep Pais, appearing for Mr. Khalid, argued that no criminality was alleged against many persons who were accused of attending “conspiracy meetings” or making phone calls after the violence.

“How am I an accused? There are two from the ‘meeting’ who are accused. Sharjeel Imam and myself. How are we accused when others [who allegedly attended the ‘conspiracy meetings’] are not?” argued the senior lawyer.

“The basis of making this person or that person an accused is not even known,” he added.

Mr. Pais sought bail for his client on the grounds of his prolonged incarceration — of over four years — without trial and parity with co-accused Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Asif Iqbal Tanha, and Ishrat Jahan, who are out on bail. He emphasised that Mr. Khalid was not even in north-east Delhi when the violence took place.

“There is no recovery from me or at my instance. There is no physical evidence to show my complicity. There is no allegation of procurement or raising of funds. There is no allegation of a terrorist act,” Mr. Pais said.

Apart from hearing arguments on behalf of Khalid, the court heard submissions of the counsel appearing for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) youth wing leader and Jamia Millia Islamia student Meeran Haider.