Delhi Riots UAPA Case: Court Grants Interim Bail To Accused For Helping Daughter To Open Dental Clinic

A Delhi Court has recently granted interim bail of two weeks to an accused in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case for helping his daughter and providing her financial support in opening a dental clinic.

“…this Court is inclined to take a more humanitarian approach towards the applicant/accused Mohd. Saleem Khan and the need for interim bail on the grounds so advocated. Hence, this Court deems it fit to grant interim bail to the accused Mohd. Saleem Khan for a period of two weeks….,” Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat said.

In an order passed on November 18, the judge directed Khan to daily video call the Investigating Officer of the case during the period of his interim bail.

The court also restrained him from talking or giving any interview to any media, including the social media, during the said period.

The judge observed that Khan’s conduct during the court hearings has been satisfactory and that there is no alleged threat to witnesses or tampering with evidence, as alleged by the prosecution.

It was noted that the prosecution had not denied that Khan’s daughter is a doctor or required funds for setting-up her Dental Clinic.

“What is argued is that any authorized person can sell the stock of the proprietorship firm of the accused to generate funds. However, at this stage, when the daughter of the accused is about to set-up a clinic and requires the presence of her father as also the financial assistance that can be best managed by him, the need/ground does not appear to be superfluous. Accused has been in custody for more than around three and half years. The conduct report from the jail says that his conduct has been satisfactory,” the court said.

Advocate Gautam Khazanchi appeared for the accused.

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.