Delhi Riots Accused Face UAPA Charges Amid Supreme Court Bail Hearing; Mumbai Hostage Crisis and Military Drill Covered
The Supreme Court examines bail pleas of Delhi 2020 riots accused, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, linked to a conspiracy to destabilize India during Trump's visit, under UAPA. Meanwhile, a hostage crisis in Mumbai ended with police rescue and the death of perpetrator Rohit Arya. The report also highlights the tri-services Exercise Trishul 2025 and political debates on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy.
The 2020 Delhi riots case is under Supreme Court scrutiny, focusing on bail pleas by accused activists such as Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The Delhi Police's affidavit alleges the riots were a coordinated regime change operation aimed to destabilize India’s sovereignty and global image, supported by video and encrypted chat evidence, opposing bail under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The riots, linked to anti-CAA protests, led to 53 deaths and hundreds injured. Concurrently, a tense hostage crisis unfolded in Mumbai where Rohit Arya held 17 children and two adults captive before police commandos ended the standoff, killing Arya. Arya claimed grievances over unpaid dues related to a school improvement project. Police found an air gun and chemicals on site, investigating the incident as planned. Additionally, the report covers the Indian military’s tri-services Exercise Trishul 2025 in Gujarat and Rajasthan, deploying advanced weaponry to signal preparedness against cross-border threats, particularly from Pakistan. Politically, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Congress party for neglecting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legacy posthumously and announced nationwide commemorations for Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, emphasizing his integral role in uniting over 550 princely states into India.
