The Supreme Court on Monday refused to give two weeks to Delhi Police for filing its reply on bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and Meeran Haider in the UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in Delhi. As the hearing commenced, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, sought time to file a counter-affidavit. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria refused to grant two weeks and said it will hear the matter on October 31.
“We have given you enough time. Last time, while issuing notice, we had said in open court that we will hear this matter on October 27 and will dispose it off. Frankly speaking, in bail matters there is no question of filing a counter,” the bench said. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khalid, submitted that the petitioners have been in jail for over five years. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for one of the petitioners, said the whole case is about the delay in trial and there should not be further delay in the hearing.