Delhi Riots Conspiracy Case: High Court Removes Stay on Charges, Dismisses Devangana Kalita’s Plea

June 5, 2026 : The Delhi High Court on Friday vacated its interim order that had restrained the trial court from passing a final order on the framing of charges in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna dismissed a petition filed by Pinjra Tod activist Devangana Kalita, who had sought access to certain video recordings of anti-CAA and NRC protests collected by the Delhi Police during the investigation, along with WhatsApp chats of police groups.

Earlier, on September 12, 2024, the High Court had allowed the trial court to continue hearing arguments on charges but directed it not to pass any final order until Kalita’s plea was decided. With the petition now dismissed, the restriction on the trial court stands lifted.

Kalita had argued that the prosecution was relying on video footage allegedly recorded by individuals engaged by the Delhi Police through a tender process and sought access to those recordings as well as WhatsApp communications of police groups, claiming they were relevant to her defence. The Court, however, declined to grant the requested relief.

At the same time, the Court allowed a separate application filed by Kalita seeking permission to inspect unrelied-upon documents and materials stored in the police malkhana, where seized property and case records are maintained.

As a result of the order, the trial court can now proceed towards passing its decision on the framing of charges. The proceedings have reached an advanced stage, with arguments on behalf of all accused already concluded. Only the Delhi Police’s rejoinder submissions remain before the matter is reserved for orders.

The development comes shortly after the Delhi Police raised concerns over the pendency of Kalita’s plea before the High Court. On June 4, the prosecution approached Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya seeking transfer of the matter from Justice Krishna, stating that judgment had been reserved since January but had not yet been pronounced. The prosecution also referred to Supreme Court guidelines on timelines for delivering reserved judgments. The Chief Justice indicated that the issue would be considered administratively.

The case originates from FIR No. 59 registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell on March 6, 2020, under provisions of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code and UAPA, alleging a larger conspiracy behind the communal violence that erupted in North-East Delhi in February 2020. The Karkardooma Court began hearing arguments on charges in the matter on September 5, 2024.

Among the accused in the case are Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Safoora Zargar, Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Tahir Hussain, Khalid Saifi, Isharat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima and others.

Kalita, along with Natasha Narwal and Asif Iqbal Tanha, had earlier secured bail from the Delhi High Court in June 2021, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court after it dismissed the Delhi Police’s challenge.