Wed Dec 03 04:53:42 UTC 2025: Supreme Court Continues Hearing on Delhi Riots Bail Pleas, Accused Question Prosecution’s ‘Regime Change’ Claims

New Delhi – December 3, 2025 – The Supreme Court resumed hearing bail applications for Umar Khalid and other individuals accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. The court is focused on the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the riots.

During yesterday’s session, activists Gulfisha Fatima, Umar Khalid, and Sharjeel Imam argued through their lawyers that the Delhi Police’s assertion of a coordinated “regime change operation” lacks support in the original chargesheet. Defense lawyers highlighted the absence of this claim in the initial filings, despite it now being presented as a key element of the prosecution’s case.

The accused, including Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmed, are challenging a previous High Court order that denied them bail, deeming their roles in the riots as “grave” and suggesting a coordinated plan.

Shadab Ahmed’s lawyer argued that mere presence at protest sites should not be equated with criminality, highlighting the reliance on police witnesses in his case. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Sharjeel Imam, criticized the Delhi Police for labeling his client a “dangerous intellectual terrorist” without a single conviction. He emphasized that Imam’s arrest preceded the riots and his speeches alone cannot constitute a criminal conspiracy.

Furthermore, lawyers strongly objected to the High Court’s suggestion that a “hurried trial” would be detrimental to the accused, arguing for the right to a timely trial. A.M. Singhvi, representing Gulfisha Fatima, questioned the continued detention of his client, the only woman still in custody, emphasizing that she has already served almost six years.

The hearing is expected to continue on Wednesday, with the Supreme Court set to deliberate on the arguments presented by both sides.

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