2020 Delhi Riots Meant to ‘Globalise’ Anti-CAA Agenda: Delhi Police Opposes Umar Khalid & Others Bail in SC

In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the police described the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as part of a “regime change operation,” asserting that the conspiracy was timed to coincide with the visit of then U.S. President Donald Trump to draw international attention.

The affidavit stated that Khalid and other accused were part of a “larger conspiracy” that sought to “strike at the heart of India’s sovereignty and integrity by instigating armed rebellion under the garb of peaceful protests.” Citing messages and chats referencing Trump’s visit, the police claimed these showed the “pre-planned nature of the conspiracy” and the intent to “portray the Indian government globally as anti-Muslim.”

“The materials on record establish beyond doubt that the conspiracy was pre-planned to be executed at the time when the U.S. President was to make an official visit to India. This was done to make the issue of CAA a global one by portraying it as a pogrom against Muslims,” the affidavit read.

The police alleged that the “so-called peaceful protests” were in fact a “radicalising catalyst,” camouflaged to incite violence across states. It cited evidence of violent incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Bihar as part of what it called a coordinated effort to “replicate and execute” the Delhi model nationwide.

“The conspiracy resulted in the death of 53 persons and large-scale damage to public property,” the affidavit said, adding that over 750 FIRs were registered in Delhi alone.

The police also argued that Khalid and other accused do not deserve the liberty of bail, contending that “in offences striking at the very root of India’s integrity under the UAPA, jail and not bail is the rule.” The affidavit emphasized that the allegations against the petitioner are “prima facie true” and that the accused had failed to rebut this presumption.

The Delhi Police further accused the accused persons, including Khalid, of “deliberately delaying” the trial through “frivolous and obstructive” applications. It noted that Section 207 proceedings, related to the supply of case documents, took nearly two years to complete, with 39 hearings held between September 2021 and August 2023.

According to the affidavit, the framing of charges began in August 2023, but the accused “refused to argue the matter on one pretext or another,” leading to over 50 hearings without substantive progress.

The police contended that the delay in trial was “solely attributable to the accused,” citing a recent Delhi High Court judgment in Tasleem Ahmed v. State (NCT of Delhi), which, it said, “clearly records that the accused systematically delayed the trial.”

“The malafide conduct of the petitioners is apparent from their attempt to suppress the said judgment, which contains scathing findings against them,” the police claimed.

On Khalid’s individual plea, the affidavit noted that he had earlier withdrawn his bail application from the Supreme Court in February 2024, making the Delhi High Court’s findings final. It said there was “no change in circumstances” warranting a fresh bail plea and urged the top court not to permit repeated applications “to reopen issues that have already attained finality.”

The Delhi Police has said that granting bail to Khalid and others would “send a wrong message” and that the nature and gravity of the alleged offences, coupled with evidence of his role in the conspiracy, warrant continued detention.

Notably, on October 27, the Apex Court had fixed October 31 for hearing the long-pending bail pleas of student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Shifa-ur-Rehman, all accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) in the 2020 Delhi Riots larger conspiracy case. The Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria will hear the pleas.

Case Title: Gulfisha Fatima v. State of NCT of Delhi and connected matters

Affidavit By: Delhi Police 

Affidavit Date: October 30, 2025

Bench: Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria