New Delhi

Activist Gulfisha Fatima on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to grant her bail in the February 2020 Delhi riots case, arguing that Delhi Police’s assertion of a coordinated “regime change operation” does not find any mention in the chargesheet.

Appearing for Fatima, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi told a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria that the activist has spent nearly six years in custody despite charges not being framed. He described the delay in the trial as “astonishing and unprecedented”.

“Where have you alleged regime change as the heart of your chargesheet?” Singhvi asked, adding that the prosecution’s claim of a pan-India conspiracy “to separate Assam from India” was also without basis.

The Delhi Police, opposing the bail pleas of Fatima as well as activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others, maintained that the riots were not spontaneous but “orchestrated, pre-planned and well-designed” to attack the nation’s sovereignty.

Singhvi argued that Fatima — the only woman accused still in jail — should be granted parity with co-accused Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and Asif Iqbal Tanha, who got bail in June 2021. He said the allegations that Fatima took part in a “secret meeting” mirrored those against Narwal and Kalita.

“There is no evidence of chilli powder, acid or anything else. There was no recovery. They uploaded it on social media. How can it be a secret meeting?” he submitted, alleging that police have failed to establish their claims.

The matter will next be heard at 12:30 pm.

ALSO READ: Moulana Dr Mohamed Imran Rashadi: Peacebuilder of Bengaluru

Khalid, Imam, Fatima, Meeran Haider and Rehman were booked under the UAPA and IPC provisions for allegedly being the “masterminds” of the riots, which claimed 53 lives and left more than 700 injured amid protests against the CAA and NRC.