They were already on bail in the FIR, but had been in judicial custody under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) charges.
Clarion India
NEW DELHI — Delhi’s Karkardooma Court has acquitted 2020 Delhi riots’ accused student activist Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi of the United Against Hate from the counts of arson, vandalism, and stone pelting on Saturday.
They were already on bail in the FIR, but had been in judicial custody under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) charges.
Khalid is a former JNU student leader while Saifi is the founder of the United Against Hate organisation.
After hearing the matter, Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala discharged Khalid and Saifi.
Earlier, they were named in the FIR on the basis of Constable Sangram Singh’s statement which said that a violent mob pelted stones and set ablaze several vehicles near Main Karawal Nagar Road on February 24, 2020.
An FIR was registered against Khalid and Saifi along with others at the Karawal Nagar police station. .
It was alleged that while the police official went to a nearby parking lot to save himself, the mob broke the shutter of the parking lot and thrashed people present inside and also set the vehicles on fire. The case was thereafter transferred to the Crime Branch on February 28, 2020.
An FIR was registered against Khalid and Saifi along with others at the Karawal Nagar police station under various sections of the IPC, including rioting and criminal conspiracy, sections of the Arms Act and the Prevention of Damage to Property Act.
While granting bail to Umar Khalid in the FIR, the court had said that he cannot be permitted to remain behind bars on the basis of sketchy material against him. Noting that the investigation in the case was complete and chargesheet had also been filed, the court had observed that he “cannot be made to incarcerate in jail for infinity merely on account of the fact that other persons who were part of the riotous mob have to be identified and arrested in the matter.”