Delhi Riots: Arguments on charge to commence from July 2 before Karkardooma Court

The Karkardooma Court on Friday has decided that arguments on charge in the larger conspiracy case relating to 2020 Delhi Riots shall commence from July 2, 2025.

"Considering the submissions of Ld. Special Prosecutors and Ld. Counsels for the accused persons, matter be put for arguments on charge on behalf of prosecution on 02.07.2025 at 12 noon", ordered Judge Lalit Kumar.

The matter was taken up on June 6 as it was earlier fixed for filing of schedule of arguments by counsels on both the sides.

Special Public Prosecutor for the State, Amit Prasad, submitted that the prosecution will take approximately five days, on an average five hours per day, for concluding their arguments.

Counsels for the accused persons Tahir Hussain, Khalid Saifi, Tasleem, Safoora Zargar and Gulfisha, who had already advanced their arguments, told court that they will again start afresh, that too in a precise manner, so that the arguments on charge would be completed expeditiously.

Further a request was made that since the charge-sheet contains more than 17,000/- pages, it would take a considerable time, therefore arguments on charge may be started after summer vacation so that the continuity of the arguments which will be started by the prosecution and followed by the arguments of the counsels for the accused persons, may not be disturbed.

"Keeping in view the fundamental rights of the accused persons for a speedy trial, since considerable period has already been passed, therefore, let a day be fixed for arguments...", the judge noted and fixed the matter for July 2.

Judge Kumar further observed that on the days when the present case would be listed, an arrangement could be made that no other major case is listed on the same date

Twenty people, including Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, and former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and several provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the masterminds behind the 2020 communal riots that broke out in Delhi.