Delhi riots: Court orders Delhi Police to file electronic evidence in UAPA cases

Delhi's Karkardooma Court has postponed the hearing of the cases registered against 18 accused under UAPA, including Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain, who are in jail in the Delhi violence case. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat ordered the next hearing on September 30.

New Delhi: Delhi's Karkardooma Court has postponed the hearing of the cases registered against 18 accused under UAPA, including Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain, who are in jail in the Delhi violence case. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat ordered the next hearing on September 30.

During the hearing today, all the accused appeared through video conferencing. During the hearing, advocate Adit S Pujari, appearing for the accused Natasha Narwal and Devangan Kalita, said that the Delhi Police has not yet responded to the petition seeking a copy of the electronic evidence even though the application was filed in April itself.

Advocate Amit Prasad, appearing for Delhi Police, said that the documents are big in number. There is a lot of data in it, personal information. If personal information is handed over without segregation then it will be a violation of privacy. The reply cannot be filed without examining them. The court directed the Delhi Police that by the next date of hearing, they should inform when the report of the forensic investigation will come, otherwise the court will pass some orders.

On November 24, 2020, the court took cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet filed against Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and Faizan Khan. The Delhi Police Special had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and Faizan Khan on 22 November 2020. In the supplementary charge sheet, the Special Cell has made charges under several sections including UAPA and Section 120B of the IPC.

Those who have been made accused in this case are Safoora Zargar, Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha, Shafa ur Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Salim Malik, Mohammad Salim Khan, Athar Khan, Sharjeel Imam, Faizan Khan, Natasha Narwal and Devangan Kalita. Among them, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Devangan Kalita and Natasha Narwal have got bail.