By Muslim Mirror
According to the Delhi Police, Umar Khalid, a former student of Jawaharlal Nehru University, used social media to amplify a false narrative in his favor. The police made this claim while opposing Khalid’s bail plea in the 2020 Delhi riots case. Khalid is accused of being part of a larger conspiracy behind the communal riots that took place in northeast Delhi.
Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad informed the court that Khalid’s mobile phone data revealed his communication with actors, politicians, activists, and celebrities. He allegedly sent them links from certain news portals with a request to share them on their social media accounts to promote a specific narrative. Prasad argued that Khalid’s interactions with individuals who have a significant social media following suggest that he was involved in a conspiracy to amplify his own narrative.
To support their claims, the prosecution played a video clip of an interview with Khalid’s father, where he expressed a lack of trust in the Supreme Court. The prosecutor argued that this statement was part of an effort to shape a narrative in Khalid’s favor. Furthermore, it was revealed that Khalid had requested members of a WhatsApp group to schedule protests in response to specific court proceedings.
The prosecution also dismissed Khalid’s plea for parity with other co-accused who have been granted bail. They highlighted the seriousness of the charges against him, including booking him under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The 2020 Delhi riots occurred amidst protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The violence resulted in the deaths of 53 individuals and left over 700 injured. Khalid and several others have been charged under the UAPA and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code, with the police considering them the “masterminds” behind the riots.
The court has scheduled the matter for further proceedings, allowing Khalid’s counsel to present their rebuttal.