Delhi riots larger conspiracy: Accused conclude arguments; Delhi police commences on November 11
The Delhi Police, in its affidavit opposing the bail pleas, described the February 2020 violence as a “deep-rooted, premeditated and orchestrated conspiracy.”
Parmod Kumar
7 November 2025
SHARJEEL IMAN, UMAR KHALID, GULFISHA FATIMA, Meeran Haider and Shifa-ur-Rehman — accused in an alleged larger conspiracy relating to the February 2020 North-East Delhi riots and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (‘UAPA’) and various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) — who have challenged before the Supreme Court the September 2 Delhi High Court order denying them bail, on Thursday concluded their arguments asserting their innocence.
The arguments by the six accused before a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria, which commenced on October 31, were spread over three days. The Delhi Police, which has opposed the bail pleas, will begin its arguments on November 11.
‘Orchestrated conspiracy’: Delhi police affidavit
Claiming that the offences alleged against the accused reflected a deliberate and coordinated attempt to destabilise the State, the Delhi Police, in its affidavit opposing the bail pleas, described the February 2020 violence as a “deep-rooted, premeditated and orchestrated conspiracy.”
It has further alleged that the violence was timed to coincide with the visit of then U.S. President Donald Trump to India. The intention, it said, was to “draw the attention of international media and project the Citizenship Amendment Act (‘CAA’) as an act of persecution against the Muslim community.”
The arguments by the six accused before a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria, which commenced on October 31, were spread over three days.
“The materials on record, including chats referencing U.S. President Donald Trump, establish beyond doubt that the conspiracy was pre-planned to coincide with his official visit. The purpose was to internationalise the CAA issue by portraying it as a pogrom against the Muslim community in India,” the affidavit stated.
The Delhi Police further said that the issue of CAA was “carefully chosen to act as a radicalising catalyst, camouflaged under the guise of peaceful protest.”
According to Delhi police, the conspiracy led to the deaths of 53 people, widespread damage to public property, and the registration of 753 FIRs in Delhi alone. “Evidence on record suggests that this conspiracy was designed to be replicated on a pan-India scale,” it claimed.
The affidavit was filed in response to the bail petitions of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Shifa-ur-Rehman, who have challenged the Delhi High Court’s order denying them bail in the UAPA case relating to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the riots.