Court grants Delhi Police's request for 10 day custody of Umar Khalid in riots case

Umar Khalid was produced virtually before a Delhi court on Monday following his arrest under UAPA in connection with the northeast district riots that rocked the national capital in February of this year.

Umar Khalid's custody has been extended for 10 days by a Delhi court. A former member of the Jawaharlal Nehru Students Association (JNUSU), Khalid was arrested on Sunday night by Delhi Police Special Cell on charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

He was produced before the Karkardooma court in Delhi via video conference on Monday by the Delhi Police Special Cell. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat granted the police’s request extending Khalid’s custody for 10 days.

While seeking an extension of custody, Delhi Police told the court that it intends to confront Umar with a huge amount of data.

In its statement, the Delhi Police has accused Umar Khalid of instigating violence that resulted in northeast Delhi riots that rocked the national capital in February of this year. The violence first reported on February 23, claimed 53 lives and left more than 200 people injured.

The Delhi Police had said in its FIR corresponding to the case that Khalid and two others hatched a "premeditated conspiracy". Provocative speeches were given by them to incite people ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to India amid the anti-CAA/NRC protests, investigators had suggested.

Umar and the other accused have also been booked on charges of sedition, murder, attempt to murder, rioting and promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion.

Police had first registered an FIR in March naming Umar Khalid and suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain as prime conspirators in the Chand Bagh violence case. Khalid Saifi, who is a co-founder of 'United Against Hate' along with Umar Khalid, was also arrested for allegedly arranging a meeting between the former JNUSU leader and the AAP councillor.

Umar was interrogated in August and his mobile phone was also seized by the Delhi Police Special Cell at the time. He was summoned on Sunday and questioned for over 10 hours leading to his arrest at around 1 am.

In a tweet on Sunday night, Umar's father Ilyas SQR said, "My son Umar Khalid has been arrested tonight at 11:00 pm by Special Cell, Delhi Police under UAPA. Police was questioning him since 1:00 pm. He has been implicated in Delhi Riots. #StandWithUmarKhalid."