New Delhi: On Thursday, the police told the Delhi High Court that speeches made by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others created fear among people. They talked about controversial topics like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Babri Mosque, triple talaq, and Kashmir.
Special public prosecutor Amit Prasad argued against their bail pleas, stating that the speeches were all similar and aimed at scaring people. He claimed that Umar Khalid also gave a “bad speech” in Amravati that got widely shared.
The police accused Khalid of leaving Delhi when the violence started in February 2020 to avoid being blamed. They said there was a plan to stay away from the city when the riots happened. This violence caused the deaths of 53 people and injured over 700 during protests against the CAA and NRC.
Khalid and others are facing serious charges under the Unlawful Activities Act. They argue they should be released on bail because they have been in jail for a long time, and some of their co-accused were granted bail.
Prasad mentioned statements from witnesses that showed the accused weren’t just innocent protest organizers; they planned to create violence using WhatsApp groups. The group even held meetings to decide how to act during the protests.
He stressed that the violence was serious, making the city feel unsafe. The court is set to continue hearing the case on January 21, with the prosecutor preparing notes to explain the allegations
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