The Karkardooma Delhi court has granted interim bail to Tasleem Ahmed, who was one of the accused in the “larger conspiracy” case linked to the 2020 Northeast Delhi Riots.
According to ANI, Ahemd has been granted a 15-day bail because his daughter is suffering from Hepatitis B, and he claimed that he must arrange money for his son’s schooling.
The court stated that, considering the overall circumstances, it deems it fit to grant the desired relief to the applicant.
Additional Sessions Judge, Sameer Bajpai, granted the interim bail, stating, “The applicant is granted interim bail for 15 days on furnishing of personal bonds on a sum of Rs. 20,000 each with two sureties in the like amount.”
Violence broke out in Northeast Delhi after Ahmed allegedly collected local women near the Jafrabad Metro Station and barricaded the route there, according to the Delhi Police Special Cell, which was looking into the terror case.
The Indian Express reports that during the investigation, Ahmed’s name cropped up as one of the conspirators in this case. Protected witnesses disclosed his name in their statements.
Previously, a Delhi court had acquitted six of the accused persons who were charged with arson during the 2020 riots.
The Times of India reported that the Additional Sessions Judge, Parveen Singh, on 23 July, ordered the acquittal, stating, “I find that there are serious discrepancies in the story of the prosecution which emerged during the prosecution evidence, and the prosecution failed to explain them.”
He stated that the prosecution had “completely failed” to prove a case against the accused and hence ordered the acquittal.
What were the 2020 Delhi Riots
Riots between demonstrators supporting and against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) erupted in Northeast Delhi on the eve of February 23. Over the next ten days, more than fifty-three individuals were killed as the violence took a communal turn. More than 200 were left injured. Even houses of worship were targeted, and stores and homes were set on fire.
According to Business Standard, hours before the communal riots broke out in Northeast Delhi, BJP leader Kapil Mishra gave an "ultimatum" to the police to remove anti-CAA protests blocking roads in the area. He asked people to gather at Maujpur Chowk in support of the CAA in reply to the roadblock by those protesting against the new citizenship law.
Conflicts between pro- and anti-CAA protesters erupted in Chand Bagh, Babarpur, Maujpur Chowk, and Karawal Nagar within hours of Mishra's address. To disperse the throng, police used tear gas and lathi-charged.
Clashes were marked by arson, vandalism of property, stone pelting and burning of places of worship. As many as 53 people had been reported to have died in communal violence.
