Umar Khalid Accused of Spreading False Narrative
Credit: Indianexpress News
10.04.2024: In recent court proceedings, the Delhi Police alleged that former JNU student Umar Khalid used social media to propagate a false narrative in his favor concerning the 2020 Delhi riots case. Khalid, who is one of the accused in the broader conspiracy behind the riots and has been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), faced arguments against his bail plea before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai.
Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad presented evidence indicating that Khalid communicated with various individuals including actors, politicians, activists, and celebrities, sharing links from specific news portals that criticized the Delhi Police. These links were accompanied by requests to share them on social media platforms, thus amplifying a particular narrative.
Prasad highlighted Khalid’s interactions with individuals having significant social media influence, suggesting a deliberate effort to manipulate public opinion as part of a larger conspiracy. In court, a video clip was also played where Khalid’s father expressed a lack of faith in the Supreme Court, further illustrating attempts to shape a favorable narrative.
The prosecutor pointed out that Khalid had urged members of a WhatsApp group to plan protests following specific court proceedings, indicating a strategic approach to leverage legal events for activism. Additionally, Prasad rejected Khalid’s plea for parity with other co-accused who had been granted bail.
The case, which involves Khalid and several others under the UAPA and IPC provisions, revolves around their alleged role as “masterminds” of the February 2020 riots during anti-CAA and NRC protests. The court has scheduled further proceedings for rebuttal by Khalid’s counsel.