Delhi High Court Rejects Bail Plea of Tasleem Ahmed
The Delhi High Court on September 2 refused to grant bail to Tasleem Ahmed, an accused in the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. The bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar dismissed his bail plea while reserving orders in relation to other co-accused in the case.
Background of the Case
Tasleem Ahmed was arrested in June 2020 by the Delhi Police Special Cell. He has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Investigators allege that he played an active role in mobilising crowds and planning the large-scale violence that occurred in North-East Delhi between February 23 and 25, 2020.
Delay Cannot Justify Bail
Ahmed’s counsel argued that the prolonged trial and extended detention warranted bail. However, the High Court rejected this, ruling that the seriousness of the allegations and the evidence of a broader conspiracy outweighed concerns of delay. The court observed that procedural delays alone cannot be a ground for release when national security and public order are at stake.
