The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by activist Sharjeel Imam seeking an early hearing of his bail application registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the larger conspiracy leading to Delhi riots in 2020.
The Division Bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Girish Kathpalia said that the case would be heard on October 7, the date already fixed by the Court.
The petitioner contended that his bail plea has been listed for hearing more than 60 times before seven different benches, and has remained pending since April 29, 2022.
Imam said the High Court had issued notice to the Respondent on April 29, 2022.
Since the issuance of notice, the present appeal has been listed for hearing at least 62 times before seven different Division Benches of the High Court, however, on account of frequent changes in the composition of Benches owing to roster change, recusal and transfer of Judges, the hearing in the matter never concluded, thereby having led to a fresh cycle of hearing beginning every such time.
There was no likelihood of the trial concluding anytime soon since the police is yet to conclude its probe. Besides, more than 1,000 witnesses and documents comprising lakhs of pages have to be examined by the Court, he added.
The petition submitted that trial in the present matter has been pending before the Special Court since 2020, however, the prosecuting agency was still conducting the probe and charges were yet to be framed.
The trial in the present case would take a long time to even commence, much less conclude, added the plea.
However, the High Court rejected the plea.
Imam was arrested by the Delhi Police in 2020 under the stringent provisions of UAPA. The prosecution named him as the riots that rocked the North-east area of Delhi in February 2020.
Imam was represented by Advocates Talib Mustafa and Ahmad Ibrahim.