New Delhi, July 31 -- The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of the city police on a plea by activist Umar Khalid seeking bail in a case under the anti-terror law UAPA on the "larger conspiracy" behind the February 2020 riots in north-east Delhi.
Issuing a notice in the matter, a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan asked Delhi Police to file its response within two weeks.
Khalid's counsel said it was the activist's third bail application since his arrest (in September 2020) and that he was also seeking interim bail in the case based on similar relief given to the other co-accused by the Supreme Court.
The bench said it will hear Khalid's plea on August 27, when the bail plea of co-accused Sharjeel Imam is also listed.
Khalid has challenged a trial court's July 4 decision dismissing his bail application.
Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for Delhi Police, said that the same trial court order also rejected Imam's bail plea, and both cases could be taken up together by the bench.
"Considering the overlapping nature of the matter, issue notice. Let reply be filed in two weeks. Rejoinder in two weeks. (List the matter for) August 27, along with Imam," the bench ordered.
Arrested in September 2020, Khalid has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on allegations of being one of the masterminds of the February 2020 riots that left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.
The violence erupted during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.