The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the stand of the Delhi Police on a plea by former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain seeking regular bail in a 2020 Delhi riots case pertaining to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the violence.
Court Proceedings
A vacation Bench of Justices Neena Bansal Krishna and Madhu Jain asked the Delhi Police to respond within four weeks to Hussain's appeal challenging a trial court's January 29 order that refused him relief. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju urged the court to grant time to the agency to file its reply. Listing the matter for hearing on July 14, the Bench also gave time to the police to respond to Hussain's application seeking to condone a delay of 87 days in filing the appeal.
Background of the Case
Hussain and others were booked under the anti-terror law - Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) - in the case for being the “masterminds” of the February 2020 riots, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence erupted during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Activists Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, and Umar Khalid, among others, were also booked for their alleged involvement in the larger conspiracy case, which is being investigated by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.
Trial Court's Earlier Order
On January 29, the trial court denied the relief of regular bail to Tahir Hussain, stating that a prima facie case was made out against him in earlier orders, making him ineligible to get bail under the UAPA. The Delhi Police had earlier alleged connections between Hussain and activists Khalid Saifi and Umar Khalid, who were part of a larger group of persons organising protests in Delhi.
Recovery of Incriminating Materials
The police also reportedly recovered crates containing glass bottles with some liquid filled in them and stuffed with pieces of cloth, which were used or to be used as Molotov cocktails, a large number of bricks and stone pieces, and three catapults from the house of Hussain.
The court has now directed the police to file their response within four weeks, and the next hearing is scheduled for July 14.
