The Delhi Police on Thursday opposed the bail petitions filed by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and five other accused in the Delhi riots conspiracy case. A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria heard the bail pleas. Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, played certain video clips in the court which featured provocative speeches made by Sharjeel Imam.
In the clips, Imam called for chakka-jams to be held in all Indian cities. He also said that Muslims must unite to cut off the ‘chicken neck’ area, a 16-kilometer stretch connecting India to Assam. The clips showed him making statements such as cutting off the north-east from the mainland, disrupting supplies of essentials to the national capital, paralyzing the Government, etc.
“Riots Timed With US President Trump’s Visit” – Delhi Police
On being asked if the speeches were a part of the evidence, the ASG replied in the affirmative. Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Imam, submitted that the clips only showed selective portions of his speeches without the full context. Citing WhatsApp messages in groups such as Delhi Protest Support Group (DPSG), Jamia Awareness Campaign Team, ASG argued that the accused’s motive was to topple the Government and bring a “regime change” by instigating violent riots. He added that the riots were planned to coincide with the visit of US President Donald Trump.
“Whenever the bail matter comes, the New York Times carries something. Social media becomes active without realising that they are anti-nationals under the facade of being intellectuals,” Livelaw quoted the ASG as saying. When Justice Kumar asked whether the videos were included in the chargesheet, he confirmed that they were. The next hearing is scheduled for tomorrow (November 21, 2025).
About Delhi Riots UAPA Case
The September 2 judgment dismissed bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Athar Khan, Khalid Saifi, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa ur Rehman, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, and Shadab Ahmed. The petitioners, leading the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in 2019-2020, face charges under the UAPA and the IPC for allegedly organizing the “larger conspiracy” behind the Delhi communal riots in February 2020. Khalid, Imam, Fatima, Haider, and Rehman are allegedly the “masterminds” of the Delhi riots that killed 53 people and left over 700 injured during protests against the CAA and NRC.
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