Tue Dec 02 16:54:13 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article version:
Summary:
Activists Gulfisha Fatima, Umar Khalid, and Sharjeel Imam, along with others accused of conspiring to orchestrate the 2020 Delhi riots, argued before the Supreme Court that the Delhi Police’s claims of a “regime change operation” are not supported by the chargesheet. Their lawyers argued against prolonged pre-trial detention, which they likened to punishment before conviction, and asserted that the speeches cited as evidence do not constitute a terrorist act. The court is hearing their bail pleas and will continue the hearing on December 3rd.
News Article:
Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Delhi Riots Conspiracy Case; Activists Claim “Regime Change” Narrative Unsupported
New Delhi – December 2, 2025 – The Supreme Court today heard arguments in the bail pleas of activists Gulfisha Fatima, Umar Khalid, and Sharjeel Imam, who are accused of conspiring to orchestrate the February 2020 Delhi riots. The case centers around charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The activists’ legal teams argued that the Delhi Police’s central claim of a coordinated “regime change operation” is not reflected in the formal chargesheet. Advocate A.M. Singhvi, representing Fatima, decried her nearly six-year pre-trial detention, arguing it amounts to punishment before conviction. He questioned the justification for her continued incarceration and the “public interest” it serves.
Kapil Sibal, representing Khalid, played a February 2020 speech in court, arguing it contained no inflammatory language that would warrant UAPA charges. Siddharth Dave, representing Imam, challenged his client’s characterization as a “dangerous intellectual terrorist” without a conviction. He also pointed out that Imam was already in custody before the riots occurred.
The Delhi Police, represented by Additional Solicitor-General S.V. Raju, maintains that the riots were part of a larger conspiracy to destabilize the government, disguised as protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria are presiding over the case. The hearing will continue tomorrow, December 3rd, with further rejoinder submissions on behalf of the accused. The outcome of the bail pleas remains uncertain, but the arguments have raised significant questions about the length of pre-trial detention and the evidence supporting the conspiracy charges.
First Piper 