Umar Khalid and Tahir Hussain say they want arguments on charge to begin by prosecution

New Delhi [India], September 18 : Former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid and former Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Councillor Tahir Hussain on Monday said in Karkardooma Court that they want arguments on the charge to begin by the prosecution in the larger conspiracy of Delhi riots 2020 case.
While some of the accused persons have moved pleas seeking direction to Delhi police on the point of completion of investigation before commencing hearing the arguments on charges, accused Saleem Khan and counsels for Tasleem Ahmed, Umar Khalid and Tahir Hussain on Monday submitted before Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Amitabh Rawat of Karkardooma Court that they want Prosecution to begin arguments on charges.
On the other hand, accused Meeran Haider's Counsel moved an application seeking necessary directions to the investigating agency regarding its ongoing investigation prior to commencement of arguments on charge/discharge.
Another application has been moved on behalf of accused Athar Khan. He has sought deferment/adjournment of the arguments on charge in the present case till the completion of investigation by the complainant agency. The court heard the arguments of accused persons in their applications.
Counsels for accused persons namely Khalid Saifi, Faizan Khan, Ishrat Jahan, Sharjeel Imam, Safoora Zargar, Saleem Malik alias Munna, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahamd and Gulfisha Fatima submitted that they adopt arguments done by accused persons who have moved applications, the court noted.
At this point, accused Saleem Khan and Counsels for accused persons namely Tasleem Ahmad, Umar Khalid and Tahir Hussain submitted that they want arguments on charge to begin by prosecution.
The court granted time to Prosecution for argument on the applications of accused persons namely Asif Iqbal Tanha, Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Athar Khan and Meeran Haider on Tuesday.
Special public prosecutor Amit Prasad will argue on the applications moved by the acccused persons.
Delhi's Karkardooma Court is to begin hearing arguements on charges against Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain and other accused persons on a daily basis in larger Conspiracy case.
A date was also fixed for hearing arguments on September 11. However, some of the accused moved applications on the point of completion of investigation before commencing arguements on charge. The first charge sheet was filed around three years back in September 2020.
This case pertains to alleged larger conspiracy of Delhi riots of 2020 lodged under stringent anti terrorist law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and several sections of Indian Penal Code.
In this Delhi police had filed the first charge sheet on September 16, 2020. Since then five supplementary charge sheets have been filed. The matter was at the stage of scrutiny of documents supplied along with charge sheets.
The court listed the matter for arguements on charge after completion of scrutiny of documents by all accused persons.
In this case 20 persons including Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain, Natasha Narwal, Devangna Kalita, Safoora Zargar, Ishrat Jahan and others have been arrayed as accused. Two accused persons Suleman Siddiqui alias Salman and Amanullah have been declared proclaimed offender in 2020.
All the accused persons were charge sheeted under stringent law UAPA for alleged larger Conspiracy of Delhi riots.
Natasha Narwal, Devangna Kalita, Safoora Zargar, Ishrat Jahan and Asif Iqbal Tanha are on the bail in this case. Other accused persons namely Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others are in judicial custody.