#New Delhi
The protests against the CAA in the national capital were not a simple dharna but were aimed at regime change like Bangladesh and Nepal, the Delhi Police told the Supreme Court on Friday while opposing bail plea of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others in the February 2020 riots case.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, told a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria that the Delhi riots were the result of a conspiracy involving several accused, including Tahir Hussain, Shifa Ur Rahman, Meeran Haider, Ishrat Jahan and Khalid Saifi, who he alleged financed the violence.
Citing statements from a witness, Raju submitted that conspirators planned violence, organised chakka jams to disrupt and "choke Assam out of India", and further mobilised rioters who, armed with sticks, engaged in heavy stone-pelting.
"This is a clear case where UAPA [Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967] offences are attracted, conspiracy to commit terrorist act, murder, etc is made out. It was not a simple dharna for CAA [Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019], it was for regime change."
"All those who went for dharna carried sticks, acid bottles. They wanted regime change like in Bangladesh and Nepal. They have scant regard for the Constitution," Raju told the bench.
Raju said large-scale rioting occurred after the street CCTVs were destroyed.
"A police constable was killed and other police personnel were injured in the attack following a large-scale mobilisation. In the ensuing riots, an Intelligence Bureau officer was killed," he said.
The bench will now hear the matter on November 24.PTI