Delhi Police Claims 2020 Riots Were a ‘Regime Change’ Plot, Opposes Bail for Umar Khalid and Others
Delhi Police opposed bail for activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others accused in the 2020 Delhi riots, alleging their involvement in a coordinated ‘regime change operation’ disguised as civil dissent. The police submitted a detailed affidavit claiming Khalid was the chief conspirator, with the violence timed to coincide with President Trump's visit and part of a pan-India unrest plan.
The Delhi Police, in a 177-page affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, vehemently opposed the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, and Shifa Ur Rehman, accusing them of masterminding the 2020 Delhi riots as part of a ‘larger conspiracy’ aimed at regime change. They allege Khalid acted as the chief conspirator and mentor to Imam, planning and executing violence during the North East Delhi riots that left 53 dead and hundreds injured. The affidavit states that the 'chakka jam' protest was deliberately designed to provoke communal riots, cause damage to government and private property, and target police personnel and non-Muslims. The unrest was allegedly orchestrated to coincide with US President Donald Trump's visit to internationalize the violence and portray the government as discriminatory. The police further argue the riots were part of a coordinated pan-India plan involving simultaneous unrest in several states, not isolated incidents. The accused have maintained that their actions were lawful protests, claiming their detention amounts to punishment before conviction, while the police contend bail should be denied in such grave cases under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The Supreme Court is set to assess both the delay in trial proceedings and bail eligibility in this high-profile case.
