Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 12: Activist Umar Khalid, accused in the 2020 Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case, on Thursday opposed the framing of charges before a Delhi court, claiming that he has spent five years in custody based on what he called a “joke of an FIR.”

Appearing before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai, Khalid’s counsel, senior advocate Trideep Pais, argued that the evidence against him was fabricated and lacked legal sanctity.

“This FIR doesn’t have the sanctity of law. My client has spent five years in custody in this joke of an FIR,” Pais submitted. He further pointed out that while the prosecution alleged 51 deaths in the riots, those incidents are already being probed under 751 separate FIRs.

Pais accused the investigating agency of targeting Khalid deliberately. “You first decide ‘isko pakadna hai’ (this person has to be caught), then reverse engineering takes place,” he said, adding that there were no credible linkages to implicate Khalid.

He also cited several trial court judgments in riot-related cases where judges criticized the investigative agency for weak evidence and subsequently acquitted the accused. “Please see the falsehood of the chargesheet, the manner in which it peddles lies. This (Khalid) is a person who was not there,” he contended.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing on September 17.

Khalid, who was arrested on September 13, 2020, remains in custody along with 20 others, including activists Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, and former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, all accused of being part of a larger conspiracy to instigate the 2020 riots in northeast Delhi.