Supreme Court denies request by Delhi riots accused to study law in Ghaziabad

Court Ruling

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to modify the bail conditions of Delhi riots accused Shadab Ahmad, keeping in place a strict rule that bars him from leaving the national capital. A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi heard the plea and declined to let Mr. Ahmad attend law classes at a university in Ghaziabad.

The Hearing

Justice Kumar questioned the lawyer representing Mr. Ahmad about why he sought admission outside Delhi instead of choosing a college within the city. The lawyer explained that Mr. Ahmad tried to get into Delhi University's LLB course but failed to secure admission, leading him to enroll in Ghaziabad while trying to reform himself. Realising the court's stance, the lawyer asked to withdraw the petition, and the Bench allowed the withdrawal while letting the accused approach the trial court instead.

Bail Conditions

Mr. Ahmad had asked the court to change two specific bail rules: the ban on leaving the National Capital Territory without the trial court's permission, and the requirement to report to the Delhi Police Crime Branch police station twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. The Supreme Court had granted him bail on January 5 along with four others, while denying bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam under 11 strict conditions.

Context

All seven accused in this specific group face charges under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Indian Penal Code for allegedly masterminding the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Those protests and subsequent clashes against the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens resulted in 53 deaths and left numerous people injured.