Delhi’s Karkardooma Court on Monday directed the Delhi Police to respond to an interim bail application filed by Tasleem Ahmed, an accused in the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 Delhi riots.
Ahmed has requested 15 days of interim bail, citing personal reasons — specifically, his son’s admission to a new school for the upcoming academic session. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai issued a notice to the police and scheduled the hearing for May 22. The judge also instructed authorities to verify the reasons stated by the accused.
Parallel Bail Plea In Delhi High Court
Ahmed’s regular bail petition is also pending before the Delhi High Court, which is scheduled to hear the matter later today. The Division Bench had earlier directed Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad to submit a concise note summarizing Ahmed’s alleged role and the evidence against him. The court emphasized the need for clarity due to the voluminous case files involved in the matter.
Case Background
Tasleem Ahmed is among the 20 accused charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in what investigators describe as a “larger conspiracy” behind the February 2020 riots in Northeast Delhi. The case includes several prominent names such as Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Abdul Khalid Saifi, and former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain.
The violence, which led to over 50 deaths and hundreds of injuries, is alleged to have been premeditated and organized in opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Prior Bail Proceedings & Dismissal
Ahmed’s earlier attempt to secure regular bail was rejected by the trial court on February 22, 2024. He had sought release on the grounds of parity with co-accused Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, and Asif Iqbal Tanha, who were granted bail by the Delhi High Court on June 15, 2021, after successfully challenging the lower court’s decision.
However, the trial court observed that the allegations against Ahmed were prima facie true, referencing an earlier dismissal of his bail plea on March 16, 2022, by a predecessor court. As a result, the legal bar under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA and Section 437 of the Cr.P.C. continued to apply, limiting the court’s power to grant bail.
What Lies Ahead
With the hearing on interim bail scheduled for May 22, and the High Court set to hear his regular bail plea today, Ahmed’s legal fate hangs in the balance. His case continues to be one of several closely watched proceedings tied to the investigation into the 2020 Delhi riots — an episode that has left a lasting mark on the capital’s socio-political landscape.
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