SC Slams Law School Plea: No Bail Relaxation for Shadab Ahmad
The Supreme Court declined to modify bail conditions for Shadab Ahmad in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case.
The Supreme Court of India has firmly declined to modify the bail conditions imposed on Shadab Ahmad, an accused in the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 Delhi riots. Ahmad, who sought permission to travel to Ghaziabad for law classes, found no relief from the highest court.
The Request for "Reformation"
Shadab Ahmad had approached the Supreme Court seeking a relaxation of the restrictive conditions of his bail. Specifically, he requested permission to leave the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi without needing prior approval from the trial court for every trip. He also asked the court to reduce the frequency of his mandatory attendance at the Delhi Police Crime Branch office from twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) to once a week.
A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi heard the application. Ahmad's legal counsel argued that the accused had secured admission into a three-year law course in a college in Ghaziabad. The counsel emphasized that pursuing education was a part of Ahmad's "reformation" process and noted that classes had already begun in August, causing him to travel in the morning and return by evening.
Court's Skepticism
The bench expressed significant skepticism regarding the choice of law school. Justice Aravind Kumar questioned why Ahmad had chosen a college outside of Delhi when there were numerous law colleges within the capital city.
“Go tell the trial court. This we will not modify... We know why you have joined that law college, leaving out all the law colleges inside Delhi,” the judge remarked.
When the counsel argued that the trial court lacked the authority to modify conditions imposed by the Supreme Court, the bench remained steadfast in its position. Consequently, the counsel sought permission to withdraw the application, which the Supreme Court allowed, granting him the liberty to approach the trial court instead.
Background of the Case
Shadab Ahmad was granted bail on January 5, along with co-accused Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, and Mohd Saleem Khan. He was released from custody on January 8 following a Delhi court order.
The Supreme Court had imposed 11 strict conditions on his release, which include:
- Restrictions on leaving Delhi without prior permission from the trial court.
- A ban on attending any rallies or public meetings.
- A prohibition on circulating posters, banners, or campaign materials via physical or digital platforms.
The accused, many of whom were student activists linked to protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019-2020, are facing serious charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They are alleged to have conspired to orchestrate the communal riots that tore through Delhi in February 2020.