New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday discharged former JNU student Umar Khalid and United Against Hate member Khalid Saifi in the 2020 North-east Delhi riots case.
Both will, however, remain in judicial custody as they have not been granted bail in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case.
Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala delivered the order in the riot case, which was registered on the basis of a statement by a constable who was on duty when a mob gathered in Chandbagh area. When he tried to save himself by taking shelter at a parking lot, a mob allegedly broke the shutter of the parking lot and assaulted several people and set vehicles on fire.
“After a prolonged period of two years he was in jail, we got this good news. This is the result of hard perseverance of our legal team. He had got bail earlier also. He is in custody for the UAPA case and allegations are similar in both cases. We are hopeful that he will be released in the UAPA case as well,” said Umar’s father SQR Ilyas.
Saifi’s wife Nargis was delighted at the ‘victory’.
“They filed a false case and after a long time we got victory. It is a slap on the police that the case was discharged. This is a god’s gift after such a long time. I can’t express my happiness,” she said.
