Thread by @LawBeatInd

📢Tomorrow - Arguments in the bail plea by counsel for Umar Khalid expected tomorrow in the #DelhiRiots larger conspiracy case(s) before Karkardooma Court. Tune in for live updates.
#umarkhalid

Hearing will take place before a bench of ASJ (Additional Sessions Judge) Amitabh Rawat.
#umarkhalid #DelhiRiots

Bench is in session. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John for Khalid Saifi
: My Lords it is for my rebuttal today. I received the written submission of the state titled “brief note of conspiracy behind North East Delhi riots”. I will take your honour through those pages which concern my client #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: The protest at Jantar Mantar was a public one, nothing secretive about it. Time and again citizens have gone there to air grievances #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: Bald statement in supplementary chargesheet to corroborate that I met Umar Khalid or he gave me a direction to organise an Anti CAA protest at Khureji. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: DPSG group over whatsapp on its own no evidence for anything. Yes, Khalid saifi was part of this group. I own it. #DelhiRiots

Asking Chief Minister to hold protest within my right as a citizen: Rebecca John #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John tells Court that calling for a protest cannot incriminate a person. “I (Khalid Saifi) own the message” #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: Their star witness Owais (vol. one of his messages allegedly asked for no violence) has been fighting over message. They are saying he received no response. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: Prosecution has communalised the entire protests (of anti CAA/ NRC) #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: Prosecution did not show message of “Star Witness” Owais who calls for people to reach Khureji. “Women in large numbers joined protests”. This is their star witness who for reasons best known to them suddenly turns. #DelhiRiots

John says a message by Saifi which says “Police cracked down and outnumbered by locals”.. which talk about inactions & excesses by Police not read out. Another message which says “Police, paramilitary and ‘Sanghi’s’ came and attacked.. more power to people” not shown #DelhiRiots

John: You cant use the star witness to validate some things and invalidate other things. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: Have we forgotten basic law? I object to reading messages in isolation. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: Can I show some more messages of this gentleman (vol. Owais) which shows another story. “I agree with you sir.. (..) BJP’s @KapilMishra_IND has announced counter rally in Jaffrabad area” #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John says that the reason I am having to read messages of DPSG because there is no single narrative, there are multiple chats, multiple people. Either you read it together or dont read it at all #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: I object to the attempt of the prosecution to take out messages in isolation & give them meaning to further their case! #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: Why is the prosecution communalising the protests? Why not reading out messages which dictate grievances against ruling dispensation, police excesses. The moral of this is “Dont isolate messages. Do it as a holistic whole”. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: There is a message which says “Both legs fractured, spirits are high”, there is no reply to this. Don’t pick up messages in isolation without preceding and succeeding messages. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: Don’t give meaning to messages. We cannot attribute meanings to messages. For a prosecution to base its arguments on conjectures and surmises which are purely theres is impermissible in law #DelhiRiots

Lets assume Saifi indulged in violence. Does that attract sections under UAPA? “Toh fir har murder ya dakaiti ke liye section 15 invoke kijiye”: Rebecca John #DelhiRiots

John says prosecution has been unable to corroborate “terrorist act”. Aap (vol. prosecution) whatsapp messages par poora case chala rahe ho?: Rebecca John #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John for Saifi: Prosecution has sought to delegitimise protests. That is unconstitutional. I accept I protested. I accept I had something to do with the Khureji site… I was part of DPSG group.. so what? #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: record shows I was grievously injured, those messages not shown by prosecution #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: The prosecution has contextualised my messages. I have been brave enough to show evidence against me. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John says nothing called “conspiracy of silence” as built by prosecution as the “only concept I have been taught in criminal law is criminal conspiracy”. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John: Prosecution has not rebutted by refutation of their case. There is no case sustainable against Khalid Saifi & he is entitled to bail. With respect of mini trial, both of us have done it. Lets not go there. #DelhiRiots

Rebecca John concludes. #DelhiRiots

BREAKING: Delhi Court reserves order in bail plea of Khalid Saifi, accused of larger conspiracy in #DelhiRiots of 2020.