Umar Khalid amplified narrative using actors, politicians, portals: Delhi police

Former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid used social media and his connections with celebrities to amplify his narrative as part of a conspiracy, the Delhi Police told a court on Tuesday.

Opposing his bail plea in the 2020 Delhi riots case, the Delhi Police said that Khalid put a “larger conspiracy” at play, citing his chats with influential people with large social media following.

Umar Khalid is accused of being part of a larger conspiracy behind the 2020 northeast Delhi communal riots. He has been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The arguments against Khalid’s bail plea were made on Tuesday before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai.

Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad said Umar Khalid’s mobile phone data revealed he was in contact with some actors, politicians, activists and celebrities and sent them some links by certain news portals against the Delhi Police.

Khalid shared these links with certain celebrities and politicians in order to amplify his narrative on social media as part of a “conspiracy”, argued the counsel.

The lawyer also played a video clip in the court in which Khalid’s father was being interviewed by a news portal.

Some of the people that Umar Khalid shared these links with were Congress leader Jignesh Mewani, actors Pooja Bhatt, Swara Bhasker, Zeeshan Ayub, Sushant Singh and politician and social activist Yogendra Yadav, reported The Indian Express.

Umar Khalid was also allegedly in close contact with news outlets such as The Wire and Alt News, among others, the report said.

Umar Khalid’s father also told the news portal that they don’t have faith in the Supreme Court, the lawyer told the bench.

“They don’t have faith in the Supreme Court, and, therefore they came to the trial court. This is how they are creating a narrative (in his favour),” he told PTI.

The lawyer said Khalid had requested members of a WhatsApp group to schedule protests after a particular top court proceeding. He also rejected the contention of Khalid seeking parity with other co-accused, who have been granted bail.

After hearing the arguments of the Delhi Police against his bail, the matter has been posted for Wednesday, April 10.

Khalid and several others have been booked under the anti-terror law UAPA and several provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the “masterminds” of the February 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.