Delhi riots conspiracy accused, Meeran Haider withdraws bail plea from Delhi HC to approach trial court

New Delhi [India], September 6 (ANI): Delhi riots larger conspiracy case accused under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Meeran Haider on Friday withdrew his bail appeal from Delhi High Court in order to approach the trial court.

Division Bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Girish Kathpaliya allowed the request to withdraw the appeal and dismissed it as withdrawn.

The same was listed on October 7 for hearing along with other appeals.

Advocate Shri Singh appeared for Meeran Haider and submitted that he seeks to withdraw the appeal to approach the trial court as the police investigation is completed.

Haider’s plea was dismissed by the trial court in 2022, and his appeal was pending before the High Court. On May 20, 2022, Delhi High Court issued notice to Delhi Police in the bail plea of Meeran Haider.

Karkardooma Court had dismissed the bail plea of Meeran Haider. The trial court had rejected the contention of defence counsel Shri Singh that accused was not present in Delhi during the time of riots.

On this aspect, the court said that in a case of conspiracy, it is not necessary that every accused should be present at the spot.

The contention that accused works on socio-political issues and has a lot of qualifications, including Ph. D. is not a relevant consideration while deciding the bail application. A bail application must be decided on facts presented in charge sheet, the court had observed.

The Court had taken note of statement given by protected witnesses Robert, Hector, Plantinum, Bond, James, Alpha, Aqib Aman, Beeta, Hotel and Romeo regarding the conspiracy and other allegations with regard to accused. The court said that a broad reading of all the statements brings out the role of the accused Meeran Haider in the context of conspiracy and riots.

The defence counsel had argued that even if all allegations against the accused in relation to organising protests or setting up protest sites are accepted at face value, including those on his role in organising a chakka jam in New Delhi, the prosecution has failed to disclose any crime committed by him under UAPA.

According to the prosecution, the accused was a member of the Jamia coordination committee (JCC). He was a member of all three WhatsApp groups of JJC, namely JCC JMI Officials, JMI, & JCC-JMI. He was also a member of the United Against Hatred (UAH) Okhla.

SPP Amit Prasad had argued that Meeran Haider was managing and handling 8 protest sites, namely Shaheen Bagh, Khureji, Seelampur-Jafrabad, Turkman Gate, Kardampuri, Mustafabad, Rehman Chowk (Shriram Colony), and Inderlok Metro Gate No. 4. He was also involved in the collection of money and its use in the riots.