Meeran Haider, one of the accused in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots, informed the Delhi High Court that he was not involved in any "conspiracy meetings" that allegedly led to the riots.
Haider's counsel made the argument before a division bench of the Delhi High Court consisting of Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur. The counsel was presenting rebuttal submissions during the hearing on Haider’s bail application.
It was strongly emphasized that Meeran Haider was not part of the DPSG WhatsApp group, which the prosecution has claimed was used to plan and instigate violence during the riots.
“None of the WhatsApp messages interpreted by the Delhi Police as provocative or calling for violence are attributed to Haider,” said his counsel.
The counsel also referred to the alleged secret meetings held in the Chand Bagh and Seelampur areas, which the investigating agency had claimed were critical in planning the riots.
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“It is their own admitted case that I am not part of those meetings….. The witnesses don’t name me,” the lawyer submitted.
Further distancing Haider from any violent activity, his lawyer informed the court that he was not visible in any of the CCTV footage or photographs that the prosecution presented, which allegedly show other co-accused individuals armed with weapons.
“They have shown documents regarding recovery of weapons from co-accused. There is no such allegation or recovery regarding me,” he added.
Rebuttal arguments were also advanced on behalf of other accused individuals, Shifa ur Rehman and Mohd. Saleem Khan, during the same hearing.
Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid represented Shifa ur Rehman. He clarified that Rehman had only visited the protest site at Hauz Rani to show moral support to the protestors and had no involvement in any form of violence or conspiracy.
“There is no case against him, but he was arrested to make an example out of him because he was in a representative capacity,” Khurshid submitted.
The counsel appearing for Mohd. Saleem Khan also emphasized that Khan had no links to any WhatsApp group and there was no communication between him and the main accused alleged to be part of the conspiracy.
“He has not given any speech, neither inflammatory nor otherwise,” the lawyer said, while asserting that Khan was not involved in any terrorist act, funding, or recovery of weapons or money.
Importantly, it was pointed out that none of the witnesses claimed that Khan was armed or took part in the rioting.
“He is not a threat to society in any manner,” the counsel concluded.
The division bench is currently hearing multiple bail applications in the case, including those filed by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Shifa ur Rehman, Shadab Ahmed, Athar Khan, Khalid Saifi, and Gulfisha Fatima.
The case has been filed under FIR 59 of 2020 by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, invoking various charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
The hearings in the matter will continue next month.
