Delhi: The Delhi Police on Thursday strongly opposed the bail petitions of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others involved in the 2020 Delhi riots, asserting that the CAA protests were orchestrated deliberately during US President Donald Trump’s visit to India to attract international attention.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Delhi Police, argued before the Supreme Court that the protests were not just about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) but were part of a larger plan to destabilize governance and incite nationwide unrest.
“The ultimate intention is regime change. CAA protests were a red-herring; the real purpose was to create economic disruption and chaos across the country. The riots were deliberately timed to coincide with the US President’s visit. These so-called intellectuals are more dangerous than ground-level terrorists,” Raju said.
Earlier, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta highlighted that the violence aimed to sow discord between communities, intensifying the law-and-order situation.
A group of activists including Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Rehman remain in custody, facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of the Indian Penal Code. Investigators allege that these individuals played a key role in planning the unrest that resulted in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries during the Delhi riots.
The clashes erupted at the peak of demonstrations against the CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). What started as peaceful protests escalated into large-scale violence across the capital.
ASG Raju emphasized that delays in the trial were caused by the accused themselves and could not justify bail. He presented video clips of Sharjeel Imam, claiming they contained inflammatory speeches intended to provoke unrest.
“There is a disturbing trend where professionals like doctors and engineers are abandoning their fields to participate in anti-national activities. These are not simple protests; they involve violence and blockades,” Raju added.
