Kochi: The Delhi Police has strongly opposed the bail pleas of 2020 Delhi riots accused including former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, media reports said.
According to the reports, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the accused including Khalid and Sharjeel Imam were preparing to divide the nation on religious lines. Those indulging in anti-national activities are not entitled to bail, he said.
The Court was hearing the bail petitions moved by a number of accused facing charges in the Delhi riots case of 2020, including Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Khalid Saifi and others who are in prison awaiting trial in the case for many years.
Mehta argued that in cases involving’ anti-national’ activities, long imprisonment cannot be a ground for seeking bail.
He said the 2020 Delhi riots were a pre-planned, well-orchestrated conspiracy aimed at achieving a “sinister goal” of dividing and defaming India.
“Referring to the headline of an article on the riots published by the British daily newspaper, The Guardian, he also claimed that the accused had an intention to defame India through the global media.
He blamed “intellectuals” for their attempts to divide the country along religious lines.
The trial court is yet to frame the charges against them. The accused have sought bail mainly on the ground that delay in trial has led to their prolonged incarceration in jail.
The court has reserved its verdict.
SG opposes bail for 2020 riots accused
