The Delhi High Court on Wednesday resumed hearings on a batch of bail pleas filed by accused individuals in the 2020 Delhi Riots conspiracy case. The Division Bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur is presiding over the proceedings.
Appearing for accused Meeran Haider, the defence counsel made a strong pitch against the charges levelled by the Delhi Police, asserting that there is no direct evidence linking Haider to the alleged conspiracy or violence.
“No Footage, No Weapons, No Involvement”
The counsel for Haider argued that his client was not present at the scene of the riots, and that there is no photographic, video, or forensic evidence implicating him. “There is no recovery of weapons, no footage, no photo of me on the dates when the riots occurred,” the lawyer stated.
Addressing allegations related to funding, the counsel submitted that out of Rs. 5.6 lakhs allegedly linked to riot-related activity, over Rs. 2.5 lakh was recovered but was never used, as per the police’s own admission.
On Association and Language of Allegations
While conceding that Haider was affiliated with various student groups during his time at Jamia Millia Islamia, the lawyer firmly denied any involvement in rioting. “The reason they are calling it a ‘riot’ and not a ‘protest’ is strategic,” he contended, noting discrepancies in the language of witness statements — some reportedly bearing the word “riots” inserted by hand.
Further, the counsel argued that Haider’s name surfaced only in the later stages of the investigation, and even then, his role was described as “peripheral.”
In reference to private chats presented as evidence, the lawyer pointed out that Haider could be seen berating co-accused Sharjeel Imam. “When I support chakka jam and mention Imam, they say I am part of the riots. But I am clearly critical of him,” he said.
Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid Defends Sharjeel Imam
Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid appeared for Sharjeel Imam, urging the Court to grant bail on grounds of parity with other accused. Khurshid emphasized Imam’s role as a student leader and president of several associations, questioning why only Imam had been singled out while other members had not been implicated.
“No witness named me directly,” he said, adding that while Imam did visit protest sites such as Hauz Rani, it was only as a gesture of moral support. He further addressed allegations of financial misconduct, stating that there is no trail linking Rs. 1 lakh received by a society to any unlawful activity.
Hearing Continues
The matter remains under consideration by the Delhi High Court, which is continuing to assess the roles attributed to each accused. The batch of bail applications forms part of the larger investigation into the February 2020 riots, which left over 50 dead and hundreds injured.
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