Wed Jan 08 20:06:40 UTC 2025: ## Delhi High Court Questions UAPA Application in 2020 Riots Case

**New Delhi, January 9, 2025** – The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a case related to the February 2020 Delhi riots. The court raised concerns about whether organizing protests alone is sufficient grounds to invoke the anti-terror law.

The query was directed to the Special Public Prosecutor during the hearing of bail pleas for Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, among others, accused of a “larger conspiracy” behind the violence. The court emphasized the need to establish intent to commit violence, rather than simply organizing protests, to justify the application of UAPA.

While the prosecution argued that peaceful protests were a facade for a plan to commit mass violence, the court pressed for specific evidence demonstrating incitement to violence. The court noted that not all members of a WhatsApp group, cited as evidence, were named as accused, suggesting a discrepancy in the prosecution’s argument.

The case, which involves accusations of masterminding the riots that resulted in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries, has been adjourned until Thursday. The court’s questioning highlights the crucial need for proving intent under UAPA, emphasizing that mere protest organization does not automatically warrant the application of this stringent anti-terror law.

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