We Can't Hear You Endlessly: Delhi High Court Tells Prosecution In Bail Hearing Of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, & Others In Delhi Riots Case

While hearing bail pleas filed by Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and other accused in connection with the 2020 North-East Delhi riots UAPA case, the Delhi High Court today (21 January) orally remarked that the State's arguments cannot go on endlessly.After hearing arguments from the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for over an hour, Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur said “This needs to end now…we can't give you endless time like this please…”Even during the last hearing on January 09, the Court had asked the SPP to conclude his submissions. The Court had orally remarked that it was not a trial and asked the SPP how long it would take to conclude his submissions. Today, the SPP read out extracts from Sharjeel Imam's speech to show that he was involved in the Delhi riots conspiracy. The SPP said that the speeches of Imam decode the conspiracy in itself. Referring to a speech where Imam called for 'chakka jam' in Delhi, the SPP stated that Imam gave out a provocative speech and insisted that Delhi be the focal point for protests. The SPP further submitted that Imam formulated the Shaheen Bagh protests. He said that the Shaheen Bagh protest was the brainchild of Imam, while the locals were opposed to the protests. Referencing Imam's speech against the implementation of CAA-NRC, the SPP argued that Imam was challenging the sovereignty of the country to implement a law. He also mentioned that mobilization messages for protests came from a fake number and that such messages were posted in different groups including groups of Jamia Millia Islamia and AIMIM for maximum outreach. At this juncture, the Court said that the arguments need to end. “We need to end this sometime” Justice Navin Chawla orally remarked. The SPP said that two coordinate benches have already taken the view that a conspiracy has been made out. To this the Court orally stated “that is all you need to show us” “next time give notes…can't go endlessly like this...”The Court kept the matter for hearing on February 03.Case Title: Umar Khalid v. State and other connected matters

We Can't Hear You Endlessly: Delhi High Court Tells Prosecution In Bail Hearing Of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, & Others In Delhi Riots Case

Sanjana Dadmi

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