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The Delhi High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on the bail plea of Umar Khalid in the larger conspiracy of the North East Delhi Riots, due to the non availability of his counsel, Sr. Advocate Trideep Pais, who has contracted COVID-19.

Arguments on his bail plea will continue on July 27. 

On September 13,2020 Khalid was arrested in connection with communal clashes that broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020, after violence between Citizenship (Amendment) Act supporters and its protesters became out of control leaving many people dead and several injured.

Khalid was granted bail in April, 2021 in another case but has been behind bars in Tihar Jail over conspiracy charges under UAPA. 

During the course of hearing in Khalid's bail plea before the lower court, SPP Amit Prasad had argued that under the garb of secularism and upholding tenets of democracy, Umar Khalid led a larger conspiracy that was communal and eventually led to the Delhi Riots in 2020.

"He tried to create “Aatank ka Mahaul” in his speeches and said “hum musalmano ko”. Note that Umar Khalid claims to be atheist. What is his identity really? At least Sharjeel Imam has strength to say I am what I am! His (Umar Khalid) speeches do not refer to lynchings met out to Kamlesh Tiwari and others but his concern is only for one community but.... he claims himself to be atheist!" Prasad had stated.

On the other hand, the Adv. Trideep Pais had argued that the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police against Khalid did not read like a chargesheet but the script of “The Family Man” series. He had also pointed out that the words used in the chargesheet for Khalid like “Umar Khalid, a veteran of sedition” etc made it look like it was a biography on Khalid.

The order of the trial court rejecting Khalid's bail plea was challenged before the Delhi High Court. A Division Bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Rajneesh Bhatnagar heard the matter daily for one week at 2:15 pm. However, arguments on behalf of the accused are yet to be completed. 

Cause Title:- Umar Khalid Vs. State of NCT Delhi