The Delhi High Court has started hearing the bail plea of Umar Khalid from today onward in order to complete the hearing. The trial court order of March 24 was challenged by Umar Khalid that denied him bail in the larger conspiracy of North East Delhi riots case.
Division bench comprising of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar on Friday had said that they will hear the arguments as a special bench on the bail plea on daily basis from May 23, 2022.
During the last hearing, the bench had put some objection on a part of speech where Umar Khalid had used some derogatory words for the Prime Minister Modi. Justice Bhatnagar asked if using such words can be used for Prime Minister.
Senior Advocate from the side of Umar Khalid said that the words used were mere metaphors and had no hidden agenda or remark.
Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar said, “Some other words could have been used for the Prime Minister. “The bench also questioned why words like ‘Inquilab’ and ‘Krantikari’ meant in the Amaravati Speech. Advocate Tridip Pais apprised the court about the dictionary meaning of these words.
Senior Advocate Tridip Pais said that history is a proof that Inquilab means revolution whereas the word Inquilab zindabad means long live the revolution.
Advocate Pais during the course of gearing presented the transcription of Amravati speech to explain the meanings. He also referred to the portion of the chargesheet which pointed out the allegations of the prosecution that Khalid was involved in terror activities.
Justice Mridul maintained as earlier the Umar Khalid speech that was delivered at Amravati was ‘obnoxious’ and that the criticism of the government is allowed, but a ‘Lakshman Rekha’ should not be crossed.