2020 Delhi riots: SC pulls up police for delay in filing response to bail pleas in ‘larger conspiracy’ case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Delhi Police for seeking additional time to file its counter-affidavit in the bail petitions filed by student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, and Shifa-ur-Rehman, all accused in the 2020 Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria made it clear that the matter should not be delayed further and posted it for hearing on Friday, directing the Delhi Police to file their counter-affidavits in the meantime.

At the outset, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, sought two weeks to file a response. However, the Justice Kumar-led Bench refused to accede to the request, observing that sufficient time had already been given.