[Delhi Riots] Prosecution objects to 'dilatory tactics' alleged by Umar Khalid's defence

Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad today objected to a plea filed on behalf of Umar Khalid that purportedly accused the prosecution of utilising a "dilatory tactic" [State v. Umar Khalid]..Senior Advocate Trideep Pais is representing Khalid in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act case related to Delhi Riots that took place in February 2020. On Monday, he told the Court that he had moved a fresh application for bail and sought to withdraw the previous one.."The only change is 439 (CrpC) changed to 437 (CrPC) and the second change is that I candidly say that I am filing it under a new provision," he said during the bail hearing today..SPP Prasad, however, said that he will have to file a reply to Pais’ plea. Prasad also objected to the application seeking withdrawal of the earlier bail application, saying, “To paint prosecution that it is a dilatory tactic, is something I will have to reply to.”Pais, on the other hand, assured that he had not changed anything except the CrPC provisions under which it was filed. According to Pais, the Court could record the prosecution’s objection and continue with the bail hearing.“First your interim application has to go out then the new one comes in,” Prasad intervened.The Court pointed out that there could be a technical issue if the prosecution’s response didn’t come to the defence’s plea.It, therefore, adjourned the bail hearing to Wednesday..On the last hearing, Pais had argued before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat that the case against his client was borne out of malice and that the chargesheet against him was a result of fertile imagination of the police officer who drafted it..[Read an account of today's hearing].[Delhi Riots] Prosecution questions maintainability of Ishrat Jahan bail plea; defence asks why it wasn't raised before