New Delhi, 13 June (H.S.): A Delhi court on Saturday issued a notice to the Delhi Police while hearing fresh bail applications filed by accused persons Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the alleged conspiracy case related to the 2020 Delhi riots.

Duty Judge Dr. Sumedh Kumar Sethi directed the Delhi Police to respond to the applications and scheduled the next hearing in the matter for July 4.

In their fresh bail pleas, Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam argued that despite the Supreme Court dismissing their earlier bail petitions more than six months ago, the trial has witnessed little progress. They contended that arguments on the framing of charges have not yet been concluded, resulting in a prolonged delay in the proceedings.

On January 5, the Supreme Court rejected the bail applications of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. However, on the same day, the apex court granted bail to five other accused in the case, namely Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed and Mohammad Saleem Khan.

Subsequently, on May 22, the Supreme Court granted six months' interim bail to accused Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmad.

Four other accused in the case had already secured bail earlier. Those granted bail include Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal.

The case pertains to an alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots and is being investigated under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A chargesheet has been filed against 18 accused persons in the matter.

Those named in the chargesheet include Safoora Zargar, Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmad, Saleem Malik, Mohammad Saleem Khan, Athar Khan, Sharjeel Imam, Faizan Khan, Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita.

The court will now consider the Delhi Police's response before deciding on the fresh bail requests filed by Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar