The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict on the bail plea of Athar Khan, an accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots conspiracy case. The court observed that WhatsApp chats presented as evidence suggest Khan’s active involvement in the alleged conspiracy. Khan’s counsel argued that the chats indicated a plan for non-violent protests, refuting claims of inciting violence.
The court questioned the deletion of a message and remarked that the messages revealed a conspiracy among the accused. Khan’s counsel emphasized that no incriminating items were found on Khan, portraying him as a local-level facilitator with no role in decision-making. The prosecution, however, argued that Khan’s role was significant and compared it to other key conspirators.
The High Court heard arguments from both sides and has reserved its verdict on Khan’s bail plea. Earlier, co-accused Saleem Malik was granted bail by the same court, described as a “local-level facilitator.” The case involves student activists accused of engineering the riots that occurred in North-East Delhi in February 2020.
