Will Have To Stop Saying 'Salaam' If It's Illegal, Will File Case Against Delhi Police In NGT For Wasting 2 Millions Papers On Riots Chargesheet: Khalid Saifi To Court

United Against Hate member Khalid Saifi told a Delhi Court on Friday that he will file a case against the Delhi Police in the National Green Tribunal for wasting 2 million papers on the chargesheet filed in Delhi riots larger conspiracy case (FIR 59/2020) after he is granted bail.

Saifi, who was produced before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat, referred to the submissions made by the Prosecution while arguing in Sharjeel Imam's bail in another riots case wherein it was argued that words 'As-salamu alaykum' are enough to show that his speech was addressed to a particular community.

"I always greet my friends with salaam. I think I'll have to stop it in case it's illegal," Saifi said.

He added:

"I'll file a case in the NGT when I'll be out on bail because the Delhi police has wasted 2 million of precious papers on this chargesheet."

The development came after Khalid Saifi and other accused persons including Umar Khalid, Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Asif Iqbal Tanha were marking their presence before the Court in the matter.

Earlier, Saifi, who seeks bail in the case, had submitted before the Court that he does not owe an explanation to anyone about his participation in the protest against Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC.

He also submitted that every individual has a right to protest which in itself is not indicative of a conspiracy.

The FIR contains stringent charges including Sections 13, 16, 17, 18 of the UAPA, Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act and Section 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act,1984. The accused are also charged under various offences mentioned under the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

In September last year, main chargesheet was filed against Pinjara Tod members and JNU students Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha and student activist Gulfisha Fatima.

Others who were charge-sheeted included former Congress Councilor Ishrat Jahan, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, Meeran Haider and Shifa-Ur-Rehman, suspended AAP Councilor Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Salim Malik, Mohd Salim Khan and Athar Khan.

Thereafter, a supplementary chargesheet was filed in November against former JNU student leader Umar Khalid and JNU student Sharjeel Imam in a case related to the alleged larger conspiracy in the communal violence in northeast Delhi in February.