Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case: High Court Issues Notice On Bail Plea Of Mohd. Saleem Khan

A Bench of Justices Mukta Gupta and Mini Pushkarna has posted the matter for hearing on July 20. Advocate Mujeeb ur Rehman appeared for Saleem Khan.

Khan was denied bail by a local Court on March 22. The FIR against him 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. He is also charged of various offences mentioned under the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Main thrust of prosecution's arguments before the trial court was that the DPSG group was a highly sensitive group wherein every small message was privately deliberated upon and then passed forward to other members. Every decision taken was conscious and well thought over, prosecution had said.

Referring to Section 15 of the UAPA Act which defines a terrorist act, the prosecution had argued that the riots were meticulously planned, there was destruction of properties, disruption of essential services, use of petrol bombs, lathis, stones etc., and therefore meeting the criteria which is required under 15(1)(a)(i),(ii) and (iii) of the Act.

The prosecution had added that a total of 53 people died during the riots, 142 people were Injured in first phase of riots and other 608 were injured in the second phase.