‘See if you can’: SC asks police to consider bail in Delhi riots case

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Delhi Police to consider whether the accused in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case could be released on bail, pointing out that most of them have already spent nearly five years in custody.

- Utkarsh Anand

“See if you can, Mr Raju...if something can be done... This is only about consideration of bail. See five years are over already,” a bench of justice Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who appeared for the Delhi Police.

The bench made the observation while refusing to grant more time to the Delhi Police to file counter-affidavits to the bail petitions filed by student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima and Shifa-ur-Rehman. The court directed the police to submit its reply by this week and listed the matter for hearing on Friday (October 31).