New Delhi, 26 October (H.S.): The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition filed by Shadab Ahmed, an accused in the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots, seeking permission to travel from Delhi to Ghaziabad to attend law classes. In view of the Bench’s response, Ahmed’s counsel withdrew the petition, following which the court dismissed it while granting him the liberty to approach the trial court.

During the hearing, a Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar made it clear that it was not inclined to modify the existing bail conditions. “We will not change this condition. We know why you chose to enrol in that law college in Ghaziabad after leaving aside all the law colleges in Delhi,” the Bench observed.

Ahmed’s counsel argued that his client had attempted to secure admission to the University of Delhi but could not obtain a seat. He subsequently enrolled at a college in Ghaziabad and wanted to pursue his legal education as part of his efforts towards reform.

In his petition, Ahmed had sought relaxation of two key bail conditions. The first prohibits him from leaving Delhi without the trial court’s permission. The second requires him to report to the Delhi Police Crime Branch twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. He had sought to reduce the reporting requirement to once a week.

The case stems from the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020 amid protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). The violence claimed 53 lives and left more than 700 people injured.

The Delhi Police arrested several students, activists and others, including Ahmed, in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy, invoking the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and serious provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The police alleged that Ahmed was an active member of the Delhi Protest Support Group and identified him, along with several others, as an alleged mastermind behind the violence.

Ahmed is currently out on bail.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar