No Rehearing In Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case As Judge Brought Back After Judicial Transfer

Arguments on charge in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case will not be heard afresh as the judge hearing the case was brought back to the Court— after his transfer was notified a month ago.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai extensively heard arguments on charge in the case which began in September last year.

However, following judicial transfers in the Delhi Higher Judiciary, he was transferred to Saket Courts. He was replaced by Additional Sessions Judge Lalit Kumar.

Now, a new notification published yesterday on the Delhi High Court website states that ASJ Lalit Kumar has been transferred to Saket Courts whereas, ASJ Bajpai has been brought back as ASJ to Karkardooma Courts, where the riots case is pending.

Notably, judge Kumar had dealt with the larger conspiracy case immediately after his transfer and had even fixed a date for hearing the matter afresh.

The judge had said that a considerable time has already lapsed and therefore, arguments on the point of charge has to be expedited.

The Court had also directed the prosecution and the counsel for the accused persons to furnish their schedule regarding the time frame and the manner in which they will address the arguments, including the hours to be taken by them.

The matter is fixed for hearing in July.

For context, the case was initially heard for years by Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat. However, he was later transferred and was replaced by ASJ Bajpai. Arguments on charge were heard only by the latter.

Before judge Bajpai, the prosecution had already completed its arguments. Five accused persons had also completed their arguments on the point of charge.

FIR 59 of 2020 was registered by Delhi Police's Special Cell under various offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The accused in the case are Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Isharat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Saleem Malik, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Athar Khan, Safoora Zargar, Sharjeel Imam, Faizan Khan and Natasha Narwal.

Click here to read notification