Delhi Courts Weekly Round Up [December 1-7, 2025]

1. [Al-Falah University] A Delhi Court has sent Al Falah University founder Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui to 14 days’ judicial custody in a money laundering case connected to the ongoing Red Fort blast investigation. Siddiqui, who was in Enforcement Directorate custody for 13 days after his arrest on November 19, was produced before Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan of Saket Court. The Court remanded him to judicial custody until December 15. During the hearing, ED counsel briefly submitted that Siddiqui’s production was premature since his 13-day remand was set to expire at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, making Monday technically the twelfth day of custody. The court, however, proceeded with the remand. Siddiqui’s counsel moved an application seeking access to prescribed medication and spectacles. The judge allowed the request. ED officials handed over his medical prescription, and the Court directed jail authorities to ensure he continued receiving necessary treatment.

Case Title: Directorate of Enforcement v. Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui 

Bench: ASJ Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan

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2. [National Herald Case] The Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has registered a fresh FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, acting on a detailed complaint from the Enforcement Directorate that alleges a criminal conspiracy and a Rs 988 crore money laundering scheme in the National Herald matter. The chargesheet names several senior Congress leaders, including Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The FIR is based on findings from an extensive investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED has alleged that the Gandhis and other office-bearers engineered a plan, through Young Indian Pvt Ltd, to acquire Associated Journals Limited; the publisher of the National Herald, and its real estate assets valued at over Rs 2000 crore for just Rs 50 lakh. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi collectively hold 76 percent shares in Young Indian, which the ED says made them the ultimate beneficiaries.

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3. [Jasir Bilal Wani] A Delhi Court has extended the National Investigation Agency’s custody of Jasir Bilal Wani, a key accused in the Red Fort blast case, for another seven days. Wani was produced before the Court as his earlier custodial remand, granted by Principal Sessions and District Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of Patiala House Court on November 27, expired on Wednesday. After reviewing the case diary and hearing the NIA’s request for further interrogation, the Court allowed the agency an additional week of custody. NIA told the Court that Wani’s continued custodial questioning was essential for tracing the wider network allegedly involved in the blast conspiracy and for recovering electronic evidence. Notably, the NIA had arrested Bilal in Srinagar on Monday, i.e. November 17, alleging that he provided technical expertise to support planned terror attacks. According to the agency’s statement, Bilal was involved in modifying drones and exploring ways to fabricate rockets in the period leading up to the explosion. Investigators claimed Bilal worked in close coordination with Umar un Nabi, identified as the alleged suicide bomber, and played a critical role in operational preparations for the planned “terror carnage.” The agency has described him as a key link in the conspiracy chain.

Bench: Principal District and Sessions judge Anju Bajaj Chandna

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4. [India Gate Air Pollution Protest] A Delhi Court has reserved its order on the bail pleas of seven accused arrested in the Kartavya Path protest case, setting December 4 as the date for pronouncement. The protest took place on November 23 near India Gate, where students affiliated with the Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM) and environmental collective Himkhand demonstrated against the worsening air pollution in the capital. Police accused the protesters of raising provocative slogans and using pepper spray on personnel, injuring officers deployed to manage the crowd. After hearing arguments from the investigating officer and defence counsels, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Aridaman Singh Cheema of Patiala House Court reserved the order. The Delhi Police had opposed bail and sought additional custodial interrogation, citing the need to probe alleged political slogans referencing slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, examine the protesters’ social media activity, and trace alleged funding sources. Police also claimed the students possessed expensive phones and noted that some had previously travelled to Hyderabad for a conference linked to the banned Radical Students’ Union.

Bench: Judicial Magistrate First Class Aridaman Singh Cheema

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5. [Land for Jobs Scam case] A Delhi Court has postponed its decision on whether to frame charges in the alleged land-for-job scam involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, members of his family and several other accused. Special CBI Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a detailed status report after verifying the current status of all accused persons in the case. The Court noted that out of the 103 individuals named by the agency, four have since passed away. The Judge said the verification was essential before the court could proceed with the question of charge. After issuing the direction, the Court listed the matter for further proceedings on December 8. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has charge-sheeted Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Tejashwi Yadav, Hema Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and others, alleging that jobs in the Indian Railways were given in exchange for land parcels transferred to the family during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister.

Case Title: CBI v. Lalu Prasad Yadav & Ors.

Bench: Special Judge Vishal Gogne 

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6. [Red Fort Bomb Blast; Soyab] A Delhi Court has extended the NIA custody of Soyab, a Faridabad resident, for 10 more days in connection with the Red Fort blast case. Soyab is accused of harbouring Umar-un Nabi, one of the key accused in the attack. The National Investigation Agency produced Soyab before the Patiala House Court under tight security following the expiry of his previous 10-day custody, which had been granted on November 26. Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of Patiala House Court granted the extension to allow the probe agency additional time to continue its investigation into his role in aiding the Red Fort bomber. The matter has been adjourned for further proceedings after the completion of the extended custody period. Notably, on December 3, the Court had extended the NIA custody of Jasir Bilal Wani, a key accused in the Red Fort blast case, for another 7 days. The NIA had arrested Bilal in Srinagar on Monday, i.e. November 17, alleging that he provided technical expertise to support planned terror attacks. According to the agency’s statement, Bilal was involved in modifying drones and exploring ways to fabricate rockets in the period leading up to the explosion. Investigators claimed Bilal worked in close coordination with Umar un Nabi, identified as the alleged suicide bomber, and played a critical role in operational preparations for the planned “terror carnage.” The agency has described him as a key link in the conspiracy chain.

Bench: Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna

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7. [Sunjay Kapur Estate Case] Priya Kapur, the third wife of late businessman Sunjay Kapur, informed the Delhi High Court that the school fees of Karisma Kapoor’s children had already been paid in full for the current semester. The clarification came during the ongoing proceedings in the dispute over Sunjay Kapur’s estate. Senior Advocate Shyel Trehan, appearing for Priya Kapur, made the submission before Justice Jyoti Singh in response to an argument made by counsel representing Karisma Kapoor and her children, who had claimed that two months’ fees remained unpaid. Trehan told the Court that the allegation was factually incorrect and placed on record that the winter semester fees had been fully cleared in July, well before litigation escalated. She added that Priya Kapur had been independently bearing all educational and living expenses of the children since Sunjay Kapur’s death, and that no document had ever been filed by the plaintiffs to suggest otherwise.

Case Title: Ms. Samaira Kapur & Anr. v. Mrs. Priya Kapur & Ors.

Bench: Justice Jyoti Singh

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8. [Adish Aggarwala] The Delhi High Court has asked the Union of India, Meta Platforms and WhatsApp LLC, among other respondents, to submit their replies to a petition moved by former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and senior advocate Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala. The petition challenges the sudden deactivation of his WhatsApp accounts. After taking up the matter, Justice Sachin Datta directed the respondents to file their responses and scheduled the next hearing for December 18. Before the High Court, Aggarwala has invoked Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution, alleging that WhatsApp deactivated his accounts without prior warning, any show-cause notice, or an opportunity to secure his professional and personal data. The suspension reportedly took place while Aggarwala was attending international legal conferences in Bangkok, London, Dubai and other locations, significantly affecting his work and participation in ongoing Bar Council election activities. Emphasising that such unilateral action violates his fundamental rights, the plea states that the suspended accounts contained years of sensitive legal material, including communication with clients, legal drafts, confidential case files, Bar Council election documents and other professional records. He contends that WhatsApp’s decision infringes Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g), and 21, impacting his rights to equality, free speech, professional practice and dignity.

Bench: Justice Sachin Datta

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9. [Red Fort Blast Trial] The Delhi High Court has refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the formation of a court-monitored committee to supervise the trial proceedings in the recent Red Fort blast case. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, while hearing the matter, orally remarked that the plea did not resemble a writ petition. Instead, it appeared “more like an essay.” The Bench further observed: “You are asking us to monitor it? It has not even started.” Filed by Advocate Raja Chaudhary, the PIL described the blast as an attack on India’s sovereignty, national security, and the psychological well-being of Delhi’s residents. The incident occurred on November 10, resulting in 13 fatalities outside the Red Fort. The petition stated, “In this unprecedented situation, the Constitutional Court-monitored oversight mechanism becomes indispensable to ensure that the investigation is transparent, coordinated, and time-bound.”

Case Title: Dr. Pankaj Pushkar v. Union of India and Ors. 

Bench: Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela

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10. [Defamation over Netflix] The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict in a defamation suit filed by Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and former NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede against Netflix and others over his alleged portrayal in the Netflix series “Ba***ds of Bollywood”, directed by Aryan Khan. A single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kaurav reserved the order after hearing brief submissions from all sides. The Court framed two key issues: 1. Whether the suit is maintainable in Delhi. 2. Whether the impugned depiction, when viewed in its entirety and context, crosses the permissible limits of artistic expression and amounts to prima facie reputational harm. Appearing for Wankhede, Senior Advocate J. Sai Deepak argued that the suit is maintainable in Delhi as the officer’s relatives reside in the city and certain departmental proceedings against him are pending here.

Case Title: Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede v. Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. & Ors.

Bench: Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav.

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