NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday extended by three days the judicial custody from former JNU student leader Umar Khalid and JNU student Sharjeel Imam who were arrested under the Law (Prevention) of Illegal Activities in a case related to communal violence in northeast delhi in February.
Additional sessions judge Amitabh Rawat extended his judicial custody until November 23 as requested by the prosecutor.
During the videoconference hearing, Special Prosecutor Amit Prasad, who appeared by police, said that the mandatory 90-day deadline to complete the investigation in the case will be completed on November 23 and the charge sheet must be presented .
Khalid and Imam have been arrested in the case for allegedly being part of a premeditated conspiracy in the riots.
When the judge asked Prasad if the police would present the charge sheet on Monday, he did not give a specific date and said he will inform the court on November 23.
Attorney Trideep Pais, who appeared on Khalid’s behalf, objected to the request for pretrial detention, saying it was “empty” like the previous requests.
The judge then asked Khalid if he was facing the problems now in Tihar prison, as he mentioned earlier.
Khalid replied, “Besides curbing my freedoms and a malicious investigation, I don’t face any other problems.”
Khalid had previously alleged that he was not allowed to leave his cell or meet with anyone while in judicial custody.
Imam’s lawyer, Surabhi Dhar, informed the court that certain documents he had written while in detention in Assam were taken from him when he was taken to Delhi and have not yet been returned.
The imam also said the documents were taken from him at the Tihar prison gate.
The court has presented the matter for a new hearing on November 23.
Communal clashes had erupted in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between supporters of the citizenship law and protesters spiraled out of control, leaving at least 53 dead and around 200 injured.
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