Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case: High Court Asks Police To Clarify If Probe Is Complete Or More Chargesheets Will Be Filed

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Delhi Police to clarify if its investigation in the UAPA case alleging a larger conspiracy in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots is complete or if any more chargesheets will be filed in the matter.

A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Manoj Jain asked Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad to make a statement on the query on March 04. 

So far, the prosecution has filed four supplementary chargesheets in the case.

“You will tell us whether fifth supplementary chargesheet is going to be filed or not,” the court told Prasad.

The court sought the clarification while hearing the bail plea filed by United Against Hate member Khalid Saifi. Senior Advocate Rebecca John appeared for Saifi. The arguments in the bail plea were concluded today.

In September last year, co-accused persons Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Meeran Haider and Athar Khan moved applications before the trial court seeking clarity from the Delhi Police on the overall status and completion of its investigation in the case, before proceeding with the arguments on charge.

The case before the trial court is still pending. The Delhi Police has opposed the pleas on the ground that the accused persons do not have any right in law to ask for overall status of the investigation or timeline for its completion, before proceeding with the arguments on charge.

Before the trial court, Khalid Saifi, Faizan Khan, Ishrat Jahan, Sharjeel Imam, Safoora Zargar, Saleem Malik, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahamd and Gulfisha Fatima had submitted that they adopt the arguments made by those who moved the applications in question.

FIR 59 of 2020 is being probed by Delhi Police's Special Cell. The case has been registered under various offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The accused in the case are Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Isharat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Saleem Malik, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Athar Khan, Safoora Zargar, Sharjeel Imam, Faizan Khan and Natasha Narwal.

Title: Khalid Saifi v. State