
2020 Delhi Riots: No evidence that accused Shifa ur-Rehman part of conspiracy
The court heard arguments on the framing of charges in the 2020 Delhi riots case in which ur-Rehman, a former president of the alumni association of the Jamia Millia Islamia, and other activists and student leaders face prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
It is alleged that the 2020 riots were the results of a larger conspiracy allegedly hatched by all the accused persons including Ur-Rehman.
As per Delhi police, ur-Rehman was a member of Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) and the WhatsApp group of JMI Coordination Committee and JCC JMI.
Senior counsel Salman Khurshid on behalf of the accused addressed allegations that ur-Rehman provided financial aid during the anti-CAA protests outside Jamia Millia Islamia.
Khurshid submitted that the accused was not a member of any such WhatsApp groups in which any objectionable activity under the law was found and that there is no evidence to show that he gave money to protestors during the anti-CAA protests outside Jamia.
After hearing the arguments, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai listed the matter for further hearing on July 11.
The court has directed that the written submissions be filed in the case.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad appeared for Delhi Police in the case.
Senior advocate Salman Khurshid submitted that accused is an old student of Jamia Millia Islamia.
Khurshid on behalf of ur-Rehman argued that even if the accused had given money 'to buy food or rain covers for protesters, these are normal actions during a protest and cannot be equated with conspiracy.'
To establish conspiracy requires a meeting of minds, and in this case there is no meeting of minds, Khurshid argued.
The senior advocate submitted that no evidence was shown by the investigation agency on whether the accused had given the money or not.
He argued that the standard of 'grave suspicion,' not mere suspicion, is essential for framing charges.
Eighteen accused persons, including Umar Khalid, Shakeel Imam, Tahir Husain, Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and others, are facing allegations of 'larger conspiracy' in the 2020 North East Delhi riots.
Delhi Police have filed charge sheet and supplementary charge sheets against accused persons who are booked under UAPA and sections of the IPC for allegedly masterminding the riots that broke out in the national capital.
It is alleged that during the riots in February 2020, around 53 people died and hundreds were injured. (ANI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
15 minutes ago
- India.com
Rave Party Busted In Hyderabad: Nine Arrested, Various Drugs And Luxury Cars Seized
In a major anti-drug operation, the Telangana Prohibition and Excise Department busted a rave party at a service apartment in Kondapur, Hyderabad, on Saturday night. During the raid, nine people were arrested, and various types of drugs, along with luxury vehicles, were seized from the scene. The party was held at SV Nilayam, located in the IT hub area of Kondapur. The Excise Task Force raided the location after receiving a tip-off and found the accused consuming drugs and other banned substances. The organizers had allegedly used fake IDs to book the apartment and kept the event private to avoid attention. During the raid, officials recovered a variety of narcotics, including 2.08 kg of ganja, 50 grams of OG Kush (a variety of cannabis), 11.57 grams of psychedelic or magic mushrooms, 1.91 grams of charas, and 4 LSD blots. Six luxury cars were also seized from the accused. #WATCH | Hyderabad: The Prohibition and Excise Department's State Task Force busted a rave party in the Kondapur area last night. Nine people have been arrested, and two are absconding. All 11 persons are natives of Andhra Pradesh. Source: PRO Excise, Telangana — ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025 The arrested individuals have been identified as Rahul, Praveen alias Unnati Emmanuela, Ashok Naidu, Sai Krishna, Leela Manikantha, Hilton Joseph, Yashwanth Sridutta, Kumaraswamy, and Sumanth Teja, all natives of Andhra Pradesh. Two more suspects, Shrinivas Choudhary and Akhil, are currently on the run. According to officials, Rahul arranged the drugs through the dark web and supplied them with the help of his associate Praveen. The party was allegedly organized by two residents of Vijayawada, Vasu and Shivam Rayudu, who are suspected of hosting similar events in the past. The arrested individuals were handed over to the Serilingampally Excise Police for further investigation. Officials are now probing the financial dealings of the accused and looking for any links to earlier rave parties. Authorities have assured strict action against the accused and urged the public to report suspicious activities to help combat the rising drug menace in the city.


Indian Express
15 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Pune: Police say will probe source of drugs, accused lawyer claims bid to frame
The seven accused arrested over alleged drug seizure from an apartment in Pune, where they were allegedly partying, were remanded in police custody till July 29. Dr Pranjal Khewalkar, husband of a prominent NCP (SP) leader Rohini Khadse and son-in law of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse, was among the seven accused remanded by the court of judicial magistrate (first class) N S Bari. Police told the court that they want to investigate the source of the contraband seized and added the two of the accused had prior criminal records. Khewalkar's lawyer Vijaysinh Thombre raised doubts that police may have planted the contraband seized in this case for 'political' reasons. According to the police, they raided apartment number 102 of the Staybird Azure Suite building in Kharadi around 3.20 am. Police sources said that Khewalkar had booked the apartment days in his name. During the raid, police 2.7 grams of substance suspected to be cocaine, 70 grams of substances suspected to be marijuana. Police said Dr Khewalkar was found at the spot along with cigarette trader Nikhil Jethanand Poptani (35) of DSK Sundarban, who was booked in an online cricket betting racket case registered at Kondhwa police station in May 2023. Construction businessman Shripad Mohan Yadav (27) of Akurdi, was earlier booked in three criminal cases of gambling, cheating and allegedly causing hurt to a government servant on duty, was also among the accused who were present at the spot. Four others including a hardware businessman Sameer Fakir Mohammed Sayyed (41) of NIBM Road, a private company employee Sachin Sonaji Bhombe (42) of Wagholi, and two women Isha Devjyot Singh (22) of Aundh and Prachi Gopal Sharma (23) from Mahalunge, who were present at the spot, police said. All seven were arrested under sections of the NDPS) Act and Cigaretts and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) at the Kharadi police station. Seeking the police custody of the accused for seven days, Assistant public prosecutor Priyanka Vengurlekar argued that 2.7 grams of cocaine, which is an 'intermediate quatity' of drugs, was seized from the accused. Investigation is being done to know from where the contraband was purchased, she said. Police said a probe was on to know the main accused in this case and investigate whether any accused have links with any inter-state drug smuggling racket. Police also told the court they want to investigate the accused on why three rooms in 'Staybird' were booked from July 25 to July 28. Police said interrogation of the accused was required for searching three persons who are known to have visited the hotel premises. Police are also probing the role of two women arrested in this case. Meanwhile, during the argument prosecution lawyer Vengurlekar called it a case of 'rave party', to which defence lawyers told the court that it cannot be termed so. Defence lawyer Thombre argued that drugs were neither consumed by Khewalkar nor recovered from his possession, so the charges against him under NDPS Act are false and made with political purposes. During his arguments, Thombre claimed that police may have planted the drugs to frame Khewalkar. Lawyers representing other accused argued their police custody was not essential. Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007. Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More


Indian Express
15 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Narcotics dropped in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district using drone sent from across border: police
The Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday claimed to have seized a consignment of narcotics that was dropped in the border village of Chillyari in Samba district by a drone sent from across the international border with Pakistan. Wrapped in a yellow tape, the consignment was found lying in an open field, the police said, adding that it contained 498 g of a heroin-like substance. The police launched a search operation in the area after the recovery of the drone-dropped consignment of narcotics. The police have registered a case under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.