[Breaking] Delhi Court sends Umar Khalid to 10-day police custody in connection with Delhi riots case

A Delhi Court today remanded former JNU student Umar Khalid to ten days of police custody in connection with a Delhi riots case.

The order was passed by Judge Amitabh Rawat, Additional Sessions Court, Karkardooma after it was reserved at 4 pm.

Khalid was arrested by the Delhi Police yesterday pursuant to a FIR filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the riots that broke out earlier this year.

He was virtually produced before the Court by Delhi Police.

It is the prosecution's case that the riots were part of a premeditated, deep-rooted conspiracy which was hatched by Khalid and his associates from various organizations.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, Khalid gave provocative speeches asking citizens to come out on the streets to protest and thus spread the propaganda about minorities in India being persecuted, Delhi Police has claimed.

Seeking his 10-day remand, SPP Amit Prasad today contended that Khalid had to be confronted with huge documentary evidence in the case and that investigation was on-going.

Counsel for Khalid, Advocate Trideep Pais argued that there was no reason to justify Umar's arrest when he had been cooperating with the investigation.

It was stated that there was no evidence against Umar Khalid to support Delhi Police's allegations.

On the basis of the submissions made by the parties, the case diary and the case file, the Court decided to allow Delhi Police's plea for Khalid's custody.

The Court noted that the investigation in the present case "for conspiracy for Delhi riots" was continuing.

Further, considering the nature of the case and Khalid's "surfaced" role in the "conspiracy and (his) involvement in Anti-CAA/NPR/NRC protest with the support of several radical groups/organizations resulting in riots", the Court concluded that his custodial interrogation was necessary.

The Court thus remanded Khalid to 10-day police custody. He would be next produced before Court on September 24.

Pursuant to apprehensions raised by the counsel for Khalid, the Court directed that the DCP concerned make proper arrangements for his safety and security during the entire remand period.

Read the Order: