By Aamir Khan , Richa Sahay
Umar Khalid bail hearing: Responding to Delhi Police’s claims, Umar Khalid on Friday argued there are 751 FIRs lodged in connection with the February 2020 Delhi riots but he has been accused in only one FIR while challenging the conspiracy charge against him.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khalid, “There are 751 FIRs. I am charged in one. If it’s a conspiracy, it’s a bit surprising — if I am responsible for the riots.”
Sibal further pointed out that Khalid was not present in Delhi when the riots took place and there were no recoveries of any kind of weapons, arms, acid or any incriminating material made from him or at his instance.
“If am not there, how can I be connected?” Sibal asked.
He added, “Not a single witness has given any statement that connects the petitioner to the any actual incident of violence that ensued in north-east Delhi.”
Sibal further said that Khalid faced one more FIR which was registered by Khajuri Khas Police in connection with the violence but he was initially granted bail and then discharged in the case in 2022.
“In the entire speech, I have said nothing. It’s a public speech. I have said nothing about any acts of violence, riots, instigating people. A bare perusal of the speech invokes Gandhian principals of non-violence and makes reference to the Constitution of India,” Sibal said referring to Khalid’s speech made in Amravati, Maharashtra in February 2020.
Delhi Police has claimed Khalid played a leading role in “drawing sinister communal objectives at the cost of human lives” by delivering a speech at an anti-CAA protest rally in Amravati.
On October 30, Delhi police filed an affidavit in the top court saying the riots were a “criminal conspiracy hatched for execution of riots intended for achieving the final ‘regime change’ goal”.
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com. Read the full story here.
