Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case: Court Warns Accused Persons Over Delay In Commencing Arguments On Charge

A Delhi Court yesterday warned the accused persons in the larger conspiracy case connected with the 2020 North East Delhi riots that the arguments on charge should not get delayed further unnecessarily on their part.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts said that any delay on the part of the accused will be viewed by the court seriously.

“It is surprising that on the last date of hearing the court specifically noted that the matter shall be heard on charge on day to day basis and after considering the submissions of the Ld. Counsel for the accused persons that they will make consensus among themselves for addressing arguments in a particular sequence and with their consent only, the matter was fixed today for arguments on charge but still none of the counsel is ready to address arguments,” the court said.

It added that more than sufficient time was given but the lawyers for the accused persons were not ready for arguments.

“The accused persons are warned that the matter should not get delayed further unnecessarily on their part and any delay will be viewed by the court seriously,” the judge said.

This was after the counsel appearing for accused Tahir Hussain submitted that he was recently engaged in the matter and needed some time to go through the bulky record of the case.

The counsel appearing for the accused Asif Iqbal Tanha told court that even though it was said that all the lawyers for the accused persons will make a consensus regarding the order of arguments on charge but the same could not be done due to personal difficulty.

The counsel then assured the judge that on the next date, the counsel for Tahir Hussain was starting his arguments and thereafter arguments will be addressed for Tanha and no adjournment shall be sought.

The counsel for accused accused Umar Khalid submitted that arguments will be addressed by him after completition of arguments on behalf of Tahir Hussain.

On the other hand, accused Sharjeel Imam's counsel said that due to some unavoidable circumstances, the counsel for the accused persons could not made consensus for addressing arguments but if reasonable time is given to him, no adjournment will be sought.

The counsel for accused Ishrat Jahan submitted that he will address arguments at the end.

Accordingly, the court adjourned the matter to October 21.

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.

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