Court Seeks Delay in Final Order on Delhi Riots Charges

The Delhi High Court has delayed the trial court's decision on framing charges related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots until September 23. Devangana Kalita, one of the accused, is seeking videos and WhatsApp chats to prove her innocence. The court will resume arguments later this month.

In a significant development, the Delhi High Court on Thursday instructed the trial court to withhold its final order on framing charges linked to the alleged broader conspiracy behind the 2020 northeast Delhi riots until September 23.

The high court's directive came in response to a plea from one of the accused, Devangana Kalita, who is seeking specific videos and WhatsApp chats from the police to establish her innocence. These materials are crucial, especially in a case involving charges under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, concerning the 2020 communal violence related to protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna emphasized during the hearing that while arguments may proceed, the trial court should refrain from making a final order until the next hearing on September 23. Kalita's counsel had argued that the videos and chats would demonstrate her peaceful involvement in the protests and contest the selective evidence presented against her by the prosecution.

(With inputs from agencies.)