[Delhi Riots] People calling each other during riots not incriminating: Counsel for Umar Khalid

Umar Khalid through his counsel on Thursday argued that the allegation of the police pertaining to a “flurry of calls” made during the time of the Delhi Riots to show his complicity was a “curious” one, as it was only natural for people to have called each other at a time like that [Umar Khalid v. State]..The arguments were made by Senior Advocate Trideep Pais in Khalid’s bail plea before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat.“Didn't we all call each other when yesterday CDS Bipin Rawat went missing? We all called each other… When violence erupts in Delhi why won't people call each other?” Pais questioned..According to the senior lawyer, the witness statements did not show that Khalid had incited violence. It was also argued that one of the witnesses had “improved” their statements at various levels. Pais submitted that while at one point the witness stated that there were 250 Bangladeshi women present at a protest site and Khalid happened to be there, the same witness waited for two months to say that the Popular Front of India (PFI) was present and Khalid had said that the Bangladeshi women ought to be sensitised..“By taking PFI's name, you can make it murkier. That's what it looks like,” the lawyer argued.He added,“No description of the buses' make in which these women were brought. You bring a second 161 (CrPC) statement to bring a crime. They should be shamed for cooking up a witness like this,” added Pais.After Pais concluded his arguments, the Court fixed January 5 and 11, 2022 as the dates on which Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad will begin the prosecution’s response to the bail arguments..On an earlier hearing, Pais had called one of the witnesses a “cooked up witness”. His argument was in reference to the allegation that a secret meeting purportedly took place and Khalid was part of it.He argued that if it was a secret meeting, the participants would not have allowed themselves to be photographed and have their photos uploaded on a social networking site.Before that the counsel had contended that a number of persons protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the protest was secular in nature. He submitted that it was in fact the chargesheet against him that was communal in nature and not the protests..According to the Delhi Police's case, the Delhi Riots were part of a pre-meditated, deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the accused persons. It is alleged that the accused persons conspired to cause disruption to such an extent and magnitude that would lead to disorderliness and disturbance of law and order at an unprecedented scale.The Court had, on November 24, 2020, taken cognisance of the chargesheet filed against Khalid and others under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), stating that there was sufficient material to proceed against them..[Delhi Riots] Witness statements don't connect me to terror act: Umar Khalid to Delhi Court