Umar Khalid Claims Case Against Him is Fabricated Amid Bail Plea in Northeast Delhi Riots Conspiracy Case

Strategic Insights -

Activist Umar Khalid, facing charges of criminal conspiracy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, has told a trial court that the whole case against him was "fabricated" and "reverse engineered". Khalid's lawyer, senior advocate Trideep Pais, argued before the Karkardooma Court that the Delhi Police had shown bias in the case and that the distinction between the accused and witnesses would reveal the police's bias. Khalid is challenging the September 2 Delhi High Court order denying him bail in the case, and a Supreme Court bench is likely to hear his bail plea alongside that of activists Sharjeel Imam and Gulfisha Fatima on Friday.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Delhi Police Special Cell has alleged that the riots were the result of a months-long "deep-rooted" conspiracy allegedly hatched after the Citizenship Amendment Bill was approved by the Cabinet in December 2019.
  • The conspiracy allegedly pertained to the creation of 23 protest sites in Muslim-majority areas, which operated 24/7, and the alleged creation of a replica of the riots in December 2019.
  • The Special Cell has also alleged that the accused were part of a conspiracy to "escalate" the protest to a chakka jam once critical mass was generated, when then US President Donald Trump visited Delhi in 2020.
  • Khalid's lawyer, Trideep Pais, has argued that the FIR against Khalid lacks sanctity and that linkages with the actual offenses are not present.
  • Pais has also argued that the chargesheet against Khalid is false and that it peddles lies, mentioning an instance where Khalid was in police custody in 2016 but the chargesheet mentioned 2016 speech.
  • Among the 18 people booked under UAPA in the case, while six are out on bail, the rest are in jail and have already spent over five years in prison.

Statistics:

  • 18 people booked under UAPA in the case
  • 6 people out on bail among the 18 accused
  • 751 different FIRs investigating the deaths of 50 people during the riots
  • 5 years spent in custody in this joke of an FIR, as argued by Trideep Pais on behalf of Umar Khalid

Sources:

  • The Indian Express (P) Ltd Copyright 2025 IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com