The Supreme Court on Monday granted the Delhi Police an additional two weeks to file its response regarding the bail pleas of Tasleem Ahmed and Abdul Khalid Saifi. Both are accused in the “larger conspiracy” case related to the communal violence that erupted in North East Delhi in February 2020.
A bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice P.B. Varale allowed the extension after counsel representing the Delhi Police sought more time to submit their contentions. The top court had previously issued a notice on February 11 concerning the petitions filed by Ahmed and Saifi, which challenge a prior ruling by the Delhi High Court.
The petitioners approached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court, on September 2 last year, dismissed Tasleem Ahmed’s bail application. In that ruling, the High Court emphasized that “delay in trial” cannot serve as the solitary ground for granting bail in such cases.
The High Court had observed that unless there is a “palpable violation of fundamental rights or breach of constitutional rights,” bail cannot be granted solely on the basis of long-term incarceration or trial delays. Furthermore, the High Court noted that some accused persons who have already secured bail are allegedly delaying arguments on the framing of charges “at the cost of those accused persons who are in prison.”
Ahmed and Saifi are among several high-profile individuals, including activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The prosecution alleges they were the “masterminds” behind the February 2020 riots, which broke out during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The ensuing violence resulted in 53 deaths and left over 700 people injured.
With the Supreme Court granting this extension, the matter will be further scrutinized once the Delhi Police files its formal response to the legal challenges posed by the incarcerated accused.
