Court discharges Umar Khalid in stone pelting, arson case
NEW DELHI: A court discharged former JNU student Umar Khalid and United Against Hate founder Khalid Saifi in a case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
The FIR in the case was registered on the basis of the statement of constable Sangram Singh who said a riotous mob had pelted stones on Main Karawal Nagar Road, besides setting ablaze several vehicles in a nearby parking lot on February 24, 2020. Special public prosecutor Madhukar Pandey confirmed that Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi were discharged in the matter by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala. A detailed order in the matter is awaited.Umar Khalid is accused in several other cases and facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the larger conspiracy behind the riots and these matters are pending in court. The Karawal Nagar police station had registered an FIR against both accused along with others under various provisions of the IPC, including rioting and criminal conspiracy along with the sections of the Arms Act and the Prevention of Damage to Property Act. The investigation of the case was later transferred to the Crime Branch.
Earlier, opposing strongly the interim bail plea of the 2020 northeast Delhi riots accused Umar Khalid, the city police had filed a reply in a court, warning his release will likely cause “unrest in society”.
Khalid had moved an application before Additional Sessions
Judge Amitabh Rawat seeking interim bail for two weeks for his sister’s marriage. The court had asked the Delhi Police to file its reply to the application.
In its response filed by L M Negi, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) special cell, the Delhi Police had said the facts pertaining to the wedding of Khalid’s sister on December 28 have been verified.
“However, despite the verification of the fact of solemnisation of marriage, the interim bail of the applicant is strongly opposed as he is facing very serious charges under UAPA and his regular bail application has been dismissed by this court and appeal thereof was dismissed by a division bench of the Delhi High Court,” the reply said.
It said, as Khalid’s mother was running a boutique and his father was heading a political party named the ‘Welfare Party of India’, they were capable of making the arrangements for the wedding.
“The release of the applicant is further opposed as he is very likely to spread misinformation by use of social media during his interim bail period which cannot be prevented and is likely to cause unrest in society and he may also influence witnesses,” the Delhi police’s reply had said.