The Supreme Court on Friday continued hearing the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and several others accused in the conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots. During the hearing, the Delhi Police submitted CCTV footage and restated its claim that the violence was not spontaneous but part of an organized plan.
Police Argue 2020 Delhi Riots Was Large-Scale
Representing the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Suryaprakash V Raju told the bench that the riots involved massive violence. He said that acids, petrol bombs and stones were used, and the attacks were also directed at police personnel. According to the police, large numbers of sticks and lathis were collected in advance, CCTV systems were deliberately damaged, and one police official lost his life during the unrest.
CCTV Footage of 2020 Delhi Riots Shown in Court
The police presented clips from CCTV cameras in Chandbagh as evidence. The ASG told the court that “They wanted to carry high level of violence, which was not possible with CCTV cameras so they destroyed CCTVs,” indicating that the surveillance cameras were intentionally removed to hide the scale of the acts.
2020 Delhi Riots Conspiracy Allegedly Disguised as Protest
The ASG claimed that the accused orchestrated the plot “under the guise of chakka jam,” with the intention of triggering unrest at multiple locations. He said, “There are statements showing Assam was to be cut off from the rest of the country,” alleging that the conspiracy aimed at choking strategic connections in the Northeast.
Attempts to Create Political Upheaval
The ASG further argued that the plan sought to create a situation similar to regime change, claiming, “There was an attempt to create a situation of regime change, like it happened in Bengaluru and Nepal, but they failed.”
Spread of Violence in West Bengal
Referring to incidents in West Bengal, Raju told the court that the unrest had spread through “chicken neck areas” during related agitations. He said, “In West Bengal, protests escalated into riots in Murshidabad, Howrah, Malda, Nadia and North 24 Parganas. Incidents included the torching of five trains (notably at Lalgola and Krishnapur) and vandalism at four railway stations (Uluberia, Harishchandrapur and others). The state reported widespread property damage, with railway losses exceeding Rs 70 crores. More than 300 people were arrested, and the Railways filed about 17 FIRs.”
The hearing is expected to continue as the court reviews the arguments for and against the bail applications of the accused.
Also Read: Delhi Police Opposes Sharjeel Imam’s Bail, Shows ‘Cut Off Assam’ Clips in SC
