Umar Khalid to Remain in Judicial Custody till October 22

Umar Khalid, a former JNU student leader arrested under UAPA, has been extended judicial custody till October 22 by a Delhi court. Khalid is accused of hatching a criminal conspiracy to incite communal violence by inciting people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

 He was produced before court via video conferencing  Judge Amitabh Rawat, Additional Sessions Court, after his 10-day police custody court directed him to remain in judicial custody till October 22 .

Meanwhile, Umar Khalid filed an application in court to meet family members, which was rejected. During the hearing of the case, the investigating officer said in the court that Omar Khalid was not cooperating in the investigation. In such a situation, if they are allowed to meet their families, the investigation can be affected. After this argument, Judge Amitabh Rawat rejected Khalid’s application.

Khalid was arrested on 13 September. The police did not seek further custody of them. Police claimed in the FIR that the communal violence was a ‘pre-planned conspiracy’ allegedly carried out by Khalid and two others. He was booked for charges of sedition, murder, attempt to murder, inciting hatred between various communities on the basis of religion and inciting riot.

The FIR has alleged that Khalid allegedly gave inflammatory speeches at two different places and appealed to the people to take to the streets and jam them during the visit of US President Donald Trump to carry out the propaganda internationally that minorities are being persecuted in India.

Police allege that co-accused Danish was allegedly given the responsibility to mobilize people at two different places and incite a riot. The Sunmiki states that women and children have been asked to close the road below Jaffagram metro station on 23 February to create tension among the people living nearby.

By Priya Kumari