New Delhi: The bail pleas of Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi and other persons accused in the Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case will be heard afresh by the Delhi high court next year.
A special bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul, who has now been elevated as the chief justice of the Manipur high court, had reserved its order in three cases – including the bail pleas of Imam, Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, Athar Khan, Shifa ur Rehman and Salim Khan; and the Delhi police’s appeal to cancel the bail granted to accused Ishrat Jahan.
These cases will be heard afresh by a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Shailender Kaur, which set the start of hearing the appeals between January and February 2024, according to LiveLaw.
The accused, many of whom are activists and students, are facing serious charges under the Delhi police’s FIR 59 of 2020, including those under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The case pertains to the riots that broke out in February 2023, which the Delhi police claim was part of a larger conspiracy to defame the Narendra Modi government.