The Delhi Police on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that the extremist Islamic organisation, Popular Front of India (PFI), besides activist Umar Khalid, were among the main conspirators behind the riots that rocked the national capital in February, 2020.
A Special bench comprising Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar were hearing the bail petition filed by Khalid.
Advocate Amit Prasad, appearing for Delhi Police, said that though the other side always maintained that Nanis and Dadis were behind the Shaheen Bagh movement, but there was some other alliance behind it.
He said, “The role of PFI has already been talked about, but now we know that it was PFI, which planned the Shaheen Bagh agitation.
“Umar Khalid was also one of the main conspirators behind the Delhi riots 2020 and we have told this to the court many times,” added the Special Public Prosecutor.
Prasad alleged that the round-the-clock sit-in protest sites were planned and organised in such a way that they were situated in close proximity to Masjids.
He said police have proof to show that Hindus were allegedly brought in at these sites, to give it a secular colour.
He said every spot and protest site during the riots had legal support teams, the coordination of which was being done through a Whatsapp group named DPSG.
Every time the police would take an action, lawyers were immediately sent to the site. The support never came from locals. In face, people were transported from sites. This can be proved from the statement of witnesses, alleged Prasad.
He further said that the sit-in protests, which went on round-the-clock, even had some source of entertainment in the form of speakers and performers, so as to sustain the people sitting there.
Shaheen Bagh protest was not an independent movement driven by women protestors, but it was a pre-planned agitation, alleged Prasad.
The High Court was hearing the appeal filed by Umar Khalid, challenging the Trial court’s order refusing him bail in the matter.
His bail plea will now be heard on August 25.
Case Title: Umar Khalid v. State & other connected matters