Regime change operation, plan to kill non-Muslims: Delhi Police oppose bail to Umar Khalid, others in Supreme Court

This article reports the Delhi Police’s detailed opposition (filed as a 389-page affidavit) to bail applications of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others in the Delhi Riots conspiracy case. The Police set out eight principal grounds opposing bail: a core allegation that the conspiratorial activity amounted to a pan-India “regime change operation” aimed at attacking sovereignty and communal harmony; specific operational planning timed with a foreign head-of-state’s visit; reliance on UAPA principles that “jail and not bail” is the norm for offences affecting national integrity; the contention that delay in trial arose from acts of the accused themselves; a rebuttal to claims that there are 900 witnesses (police say only ~155 public witnesses with many already recorded); the argument that some applicants had earlier withdrawn petitions thus rendering certain points final; allegations about violent intent in tactics like “chakka jaam”; and evidence drawn from WhatsApp groups and other technical material. The article summarises how the Police lean on the Delhi High Court’s findings in Tasleem Ahmed and frame the matter as grave UAPA offences where bail should be exceptional.