Read Time: 06 minutes

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat's order which rejects the bail of UAPA accused Gulfisha Fatima has stated that the fact that riots broke out on the day of Donald Trump's visit to Delhi, India on February 24 is not a "mere coincidence".

The judge has referenced Sharjeel Imam's speech which he gave on December 13, 2019 wherein he mentions the "relevance of Delhi" & its importance for the international media. Court says,

".... riots of this horrendous scale happened in Delhi. Regarding the relevance of Delhi, accused Sharjeel Imam in his speech of 13.12.2019 makes a mention about Delhi being the capital of India and gives an illustration that if even a flyover collapses, the whole world will know of it. Also, Mr. Donald Trump, the President of United States of America was to visit Delhi on 24th of February 2020. The happening of riots on the same day when the President of USA was in Delhi and the whole world media was there to cover it, does not appear from the charge­sheet to be mere co­incidence. In fact, there is a mention of the visit of the President before the riots began."

In his Gaya Speech on January 23, 2020, the Court states that Imam has made an "interesting reference" to protest across India and adds that "Delhi is special because anything that happens here will get international media in five minutes" & that it will be humiliation for the government, not muslims.

Further to this, the Court has also stated that Umar Khalid had in his Amrawati speech, specifically made a mention of the said visit by the then President of USA and "the need to show to the world with media all around".

Court has gone on to state that "various witnesses also referred to enhanced activity after the visit of the President of United States of America was announced".

In its operative part of the order, the Court has found that Gulfisha was present in North East Delhi at the time of Riots and as per witness statements, she was the one who started the blockade and prompted attack on police personnel and others with weapons like dande, Lal-mirch powder and others in Jafrabad area which had a "cascading effect leading to riots".

In the order, the court has broken down the chargesheet to find "Concerted and pre-planned effort to mobilise chakka Jam and brutalised attack on police".

Click here to access order

Read More: [Delhi Riots] "Mobilisation bolstered by co-conspirators, undercurrents of violence apparent": Prosecutor to Delhi Court

Read More: [BREAKING] "No hindrance on reporting contents of Chargesheet or materials in chargesheet": Delhi Court in Senior Counsel's plea alleging "contemptous" reporting by Lawbeat Delhi Riots cases