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Activist Shifa-ur-Rehman, seeking bail successful a UAPA lawsuit linked to February 2020 riots successful Delhi, told the Supreme Court connected Monday (November 3, 2025) that helium was “cherry-picked” and nary offence was made retired against him nether the anti-terror law.
Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider and Mr. Rehman were booked nether the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the erstwhile IPC for allegedly being the “masterminds” of the February 2020 riots, which near 53 radical dormant and implicit 700 injured.
Also Read: Delhi riots lawsuit proceeding Updates connected November 3, 2025
The unit erupted during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Senior advocator Salman Khurshid, appearing for Mr. Rehman, argued earlier a seat of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria that connected behalf of the caput of the alumni relation of Jamia Millia Islamia, nary witnesser has anyplace said that helium was progressive successful violence.
The elder lawyer stated that determination tin beryllium nary quality that citizens person the close to protestation against a instrumentality to which they disagree with and that peaceful protestation cannot beryllium equated with transgression conduct.
“He has been cherry picked and made an accused. Nothing nether the UAPA is made retired successful immoderate of the allegations. Even if we judge each allegations to beryllium true.
“I person done thing to hold the trial. Please look astatine the inheritance of the person. He has fought for section assemblage locations. He treats Jamia arsenic his home,” Mr. Khurshid submitted.
On the contented of parity, Mr. Khurshid argued Mr. Rehman is entitled to bail connected the aforesaid grounds arsenic co-accused Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, and Asif Iqbal Tanha, who were granted bail by the Delhi High Court successful June 2021.
Mr. Khurshid informed the tribunal that Mr. Rehman was earlier granted interim bail connected November 25, 2023, and November 11, 2024, and has nary different lawsuit against him.
“There are protests that person taken spot crossed South Asia, and each has its ain context. But we person ever been told that erstwhile determination is an unjust law, we indispensable disobey it, but ne'er with violence,” Mr. Khurshid said.
When the seat remarked that the contiguous lawsuit indispensable beryllium viewed successful the Indian context, Mr. Khurshid said, “Yes, and the Gandhian method itself teaches that if determination is an unjust law, it is our motivation work to defy it peacefully.”
As the proceeding commenced connected Monday (November 3), elder advocator Kapil Sibal, appearing for Umar Khaild, submitted that retired of 116 cases tried and concluded successful transportation with the Delhi riots, 97 person ended successful acquittals, and successful astir 17 cases, the tribunal has pointed to the fabrication of evidence.
When the seat asked however that concerns Mr. Khalid, Sibal replied that helium is not straight acrophobic but is simply placing the facts connected record.
“Are you shedding tears for them?” Justice Kumar asked.
Sibal responded that helium was simply highlighting the quality and prime of the investigation.
Senior advocator Siddharth Agarwal, appearing for Meeran Haider, submitted that 3 co-accused with defined roles person already been granted bail, and those orders person been upheld by higher court.
“We raised the contented of parity earlier the High Court,” Mr. Agarwal said, adding, “My relation is overmuch better, overmuch lighter.”
Mr. Agarwal stated that Mr. Haider was arrested connected April 1, 2020, and has spent 5 years and 7 months successful custody.
The elder lawyer pointed retired that adjacent successful the latest chargesheet, the prosecution acknowledges that the probe is inactive continuing.
The proceeding remained inconclusive and volition proceed connected November 6.
Seeking bail successful the UAPA lawsuit linked to the 2020 Delhi riots, Mr. Khalid connected Friday (October 31) told the apex tribunal that determination is nary grounds linking him to unit and denied conspiracy charges against him.
