Latest news with #SameerBajpai
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC revokes transfer of judge hearing the north-east Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy' case
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday revoked the transfer of Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai, who was hearing the north-east Delhi riots 'larger conspiracy' case. The High Court had on May 30 transferred ASJ Bajpai, who had been hearing arguments on the framing of charges in the February 2020 communal violence 'larger conspiracy' case in a Karkardooma court on a daily basis since September last year, to the Saket courts complex as part of a routine transfer process. He was replaced by ASJ Lalit Kumar, who, on June 2, had ordered fresh hearings in the matter. The development is likely to speed up one of Delhi's most high-profile trials in connection with the violence in several parts of north-east Delhi, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The transfer of ASJ Bajpai had drawn criticism from lawyers who felt that the move would cause the trial, which has already been delayed due to pending investigations and judicial transfers, to further slow down. 'The pace at which the case is moving can be gauged by the fact that of the 18 accused booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, among other charges, most have been in jail for over four years,' said a lawyer on condition of anonymity. The 'larger conspiracy' case is among the many pertaining to the riots and is so named because Delhi Police, which is probing the matter, has claimed that the violence was part of a 'deep-rooted conspiracy'. Key accused in the case include former Delhi councillor Tahir Hussain, student activists Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Athar Khan, Safoora Zargar, Sharjeel Imam, and Natasha Narwal. 2,500 arrested so far In the months following the riots, the police arrested over 2,500 people in various cases based on CCTV footage and testimonies of victims and eyewitnesses. During the four years of trials, the city courts gave bail to more than 2,000 people. Several trial courts also made adverse comments about the police's 'shoddy' investigations. The arguments over the framing of charges began in 2024, a year after the filing of the chargesheet.
Scroll.in
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Rush hour: Judge hearing Delhi riots case reinstated, US to resume student visa interviews and more
We're building a brand-new studio to bring you bold ground reports, sharp interviews, hard-hitting podcasts, explainers and more. Support Scroll's studio fund today. Arguments in the 'larger conspiracy case' related to the 2020 Delhi riots will not have to be heard afresh as the transfer of the judge who was hearing the case has been reversed. The transfer of Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai on May 30 from the Karkardooma Court to the Saket Court would have delayed the case significantly. Five of the 18 persons accused in the matter and the public prosecutors would have had to present their arguments before the court again. Bajpai had been hearing the case since September. The case was at the stage of arguments on charges and the trial was expected to begin after the arguments were heard. The case will be heard next in July. Read on. Also read: Five years later: Delhi Police's riots conspiracy case is built on sand The United States has said it will soon restart its student visa appointment process, but added that applicants will need to unlock their social media profiles to allow them to be reviewed. Every visa adjudication is a national security decision, said the Department of State. It added that authorities must be vigilant in ensuring that those applying for visas 'do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests'. On May 27, all US embassies were directed by the Donald Trump administration to pause scheduling student visa interviews until 'further guidance' was issued. US consular officials have been directed to look for 'applicants who demonstrate a history of political activism, especially when it is associated with violence' and determine the likelihood of such activities continuing in the US. Read on. The Central Board of Film Certification has asked for a quote by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be included at the beginning of Aamir Khan's upcoming film, reports said. Sitaare Zameen Par was cleared for a theatrical release on Friday after several changes, including the removal of a visual and a subtitle containing the word kamal, or lotus in Hindi, Bollywood Hungama reported. The quote by Modi appears in the opening disclaimer and makes a reference to the year 2047 , the Hindustan Times reported. Read on. The identities of 211 of 275 persons who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash have been confirmed through DNA testing a week after the disaster. Of the total, the bodies of 189 persons have been handed over to their families. Among these, 142 were Indians, 32 British citizens, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. Besides, the bodies of seven persons who died on the ground have also been handed over to their relatives. The crash on June 12 killed all but one of the 242 people onboard Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. Thirty-four persons were also killed on the ground after the plane crashed into the hostel building of the BJ Medical College and Hospital, according to the airline. Read on. If you haven't already, sign up for our Daily Brief newsletter.
India Today
04-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Delhi riots conspiracy case to be heard afresh after Judge's transfer
The Delhi riots larger conspiracy case will be heard afresh after a recent judicial transfers resulting in the transfer of the judge who had been hearing the matter. The case will be heard again on June 6, 2025. The case, registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), will now be taken up for hearing by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Lalit Kumar of the Karkardooma Previously, the case was being heard by ASJ Sameer Bajpai, who had continued proceedings after the transfer of ASJ Amitabh Rawat, the original judge overseeing the trial. ASJ Rawat had presided over the hearings in the matter before being transferred. His successor, ASJ Bajpai, carried on hearing the arguments starting last to court proceedings held on June 2, the prosecution had already completed its submissions, and five of the accused had also concluded their arguments on the point of charge. Since the Judge has been transferred, the prosecution, the accused people and their counsel sought some time to consult with each other regarding the timeframe to address the the Special Public Prosecutors (SPPs) and defence counsel were directed to furnish their schedule regarding the timeframe and the manner in which they would address the arguments, particularly the time to be taken by parties have also been asked by the court to provide each other with the schedule of the arguments. Must Watch
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In major rejig, 135 trial court judges transferred in Delhi
In a major reshuffle, a total of 135 trial court judges in the city have been transferred by an order of the Delhi High Court on Friday. Among notable names are Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts, who was hearing the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 Northeast Delhi Riots, and Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala of Karkardooma Courts who was hearing other cases of murder, arson, and unlawful assembly linked to the riots. While the former had been transferred to the Saket Court as an Additional Sessions Judge, the latter has been transferred to the Patiala House Court as a District Judge (Commercial Court). The larger conspiracy case has been pending for over four years and is at the stage of framing charges. Special Judge Niyay Bindu of Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has been transferred to the Dwarka Court in the capacity of an Additional Principal Judge (Family Court). In June 2024, she granted bail to former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to the excise policy 'scam'. Additional Sessions Judge (POCSO) Gomati Manocha of Patiala House Court, who recently accepted a closure report filed by the Delhi Police in a POCSO case against former BJP MP Brij Bhushan, has been transferred to Karkardooma Court as a District Judge. Additional Sessions Judge Manisha Khurana Kakkar of the Saket Court has been transferred to Rouse Avenue Court as a Special Judge. She was hearing the trial against Aaftab Poonawala, who was arrested in 2022 for allegedly killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and chopping her into pieces in Delhi. Special Judge Amitabh Rawat of Rouse Avenue Court, who earlier heard the larger conspiracy case linked to the Delhi riots, has been transferred to the Delhi High Court in the capacity of Joint Registrar (judicial).
