THE SUPREME COURT on Wednesday directed all accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots larger conspiracy case — Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed — to furnish their permanent addresses before the next date of hearing, December 9, 2025.
Although today’s listing was meant for the accused to present their rejoinder arguments to the Delhi Police’s submissions opposing bail, a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria adjourned the hearing due to paucity of time and posted the matter to Tuesday, December 9.
While rescheduling the matter, the Bench fixed strict time limits for the rejoinder submissions. Each of the seven accused will get 15 minutes to advance their rejoinder arguments, while the Delhi Police will have 30 minutes to respond.
The Court cautioned that rejoinder arguments should not be treated as an opportunity to put forth fresh arguments.
"Arguments have been advanced on both sides substantially and therefore we are of the considered view that in reply arguments, the time schedule requires to be fixed. Hence, we direct the learned advocates to restrict their oral arguments not exceeding 15 minutes each and the clarification by ASG should not exceed half an hour," the Bench said in its brief order.
Today’s listing followed a series of hearings in the bail petitions, which commenced on October 31 and continued on November 3, 6, 18, 20, 21, 24, and December 2.
During the brief hearing, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, sought accommodation, saying he may not be available on December 9. The Court responded that the petitioners should complete their submissions first, and the Bench would try to accommodate his request for December 10 after that.
All seven accused had concluded their main arguments on November 6. They have approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s September 2 judgment refusing them bail. The High Court had held that their roles were “grave”, their speeches “inflammatory,” and that the riots were not spontaneous but “a planned conspiracy with a sinister motive.”
The violence, which erupted during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act ('CAA') and the National Register of Citizens ('NRC'), resulted in 53 deaths and injuries to more than 700 people.
