Delhi Court Denies Bail to Former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain and Two Others in 2020 Riots Conspiracy Case

A Delhi court has rejected the bail pleas of former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and two others, Saleem Malik and Athar Khan, in connection with the conspiracy behind the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. The Additional Sessions Judge refused to grant relief to the trio, who face charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The accused had sought bail on grounds of parity following the Supreme Court's earlier decision to grant bail to five other co-accused in the same case. However, the court did not accept their arguments, citing the prosecution's assertion that their roles were significant in the conspiracy. Athar Khan, a former call center employee, is accused of being a key organizer of protests in Chand Bagh, allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches and participating in secret meetings. Saleem Malik is also implicated as one of the organizers and speakers at anti-CAA-NRC meetings. The court noted that the Supreme Court's earlier observation stated a prima facie case existed against Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam under UAPA, and not all accused are in a similar position.