Delhi High Court asked the police if just planning protests is enough to use the anti-terror law UAPA in the 2020 riots case. They were talking to Amit Prasad the special prosecutor about bail for Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam and others who are accused of a big plan behind the violence. Judges said UAPA needs proof of planning and doing violence not just planning protests.
The court didn’t think a WhatsApp group for protests was enough for UAPA charges. They said the prosecution needs to show what the accused were planning. The prosecution said the protests were just to hide the plan for violence. They brought up witnesses who they claim showed how each accused was involved but the court said you need evidence that shows people were directly instigating violence, not just protesting.
Umar Khalid Sharjeel Imam and others are facing UAPA and Indian Penal Code charges for supposedly being the masterminds of the 2020 riots that killed 53 and injured over 700. The court is going to look into the evidence more at the next hearing so we will see what happens next.