New Delhi, 26 May (H.S.):

The Delhi High Court has reserved its order on the bail plea of Athar Khan, an accused in the case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the Delhi riots. A bench headed by Justice Pratibha M. Singh reserved the judgment after hearing the matter.

During the hearing, counsel for Athar Khan, Arjun Dewan, argued that a protected witness in the case had changed his statement within three days. The protected witness had earlier stated that biryani was delivered to the basement of Yaj in Chand Bagh. He had also claimed in his statement that several people were planning riots and murder, and that Athar Khan was present there. Dewan argued that there is no evidence to suggest that Athar Khan played any active role in the alleged conspiracy. He further submitted that Athar Khan had not met Umar Khalid and no weapons were recovered from him.

The counsel also argued that the role of Gulfisha Fatima was more serious than that of Athar Khan, yet she was granted bail by the Supreme Court.

In his bail plea, Athar Khan has stated that the allegations against him are similar to those against other accused persons who have already been granted bail by the Supreme Court. The petition seeks bail for Athar Khan on the grounds of parity with other co-accused.

The Supreme Court had on January 5 granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rahman, Shadab Ahmed, and Mohammad Salim Khan. Later, on May 22, the apex court granted six months’ interim bail to Khalid Saifi and Tasleem Ahmed. Four accused in the case—Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Devangana Kalita, and Natasha Narwal—had already been granted bail earlier.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar