In a significant development in the 2020 Delhi riots case, the Delhi Police has told the Supreme Court that the violence was not a spontaneous eruption but part of a larger “regime change operation” aimed at destabilising the Indian government.
These claims are detailed in a 177-page affidavit being filed in response to the bail pleas of student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, among others.
Police: Riots Were Organised, Not Spontaneous
The affidavit states that investigators have collected ocular, documentary, and technical evidence demonstrating a “deep-rooted conspiracy” behind the riots. “The plan was designed to weaponise public dissent against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and strike at India’s sovereignty and integrity,” the document reportedly says.
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It further claims that the violence followed a “coordinated national pattern,” replicating unrest in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, and Karnataka. “This was not an isolated incident but part of a synchronised attempt to destabilise the government,” the police assert.
Accused Blamed for Misusing Judicial Process
The affidavit accuses the accused persons of “abusing the judicial process” by filing frivolous applications and deliberately delaying court proceedings. “Such conduct amounts to a brazen abuse of process,” it says, adding that the tactics have impeded justice.
Supreme Court Hearing Underway
The Supreme Court will now examine the affidavit as part of hearings on bail pleas and alleged delays in the trial process. Delhi Police is represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and advocates Rajat Nair and Dhruv Pande.
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Background of the Case
The 2020 Delhi riots occurred in February following protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), resulting in 53 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The Delhi High Court had earlier noted that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam were key organisers of anti-CAA protests, allegedly mobilising crowds through speeches, pamphlets, and online networks.
Investigators described them as “intellectual architects” of the conspiracy, though both have denied the allegations, claiming their actions were protected under the constitutional right to dissent.
