New Delhi: In a startling revelation before the Supreme Court, Delhi Police has alleged that the deadly 2020 Delhi riots were part of a meticulously orchestrated conspiracy aimed at regime change in India.
The claim surfaced in an affidavit filed while opposing bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, and others charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
According to the police, the violence wasn’t spontaneous but a calculated bid to destabilise India’s internal harmony and international standing. They assert that the plot was timed to coincide with the visit of then-US President Donald Trump in February 2020, intending to draw global media scrutiny, amplify the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as anti-Muslim, and tarnish the country’s image. “The riots were designed to portray India as targeting Muslims through CAA, using international attention to fuel unrest,” the affidavit states, citing eyewitness accounts, documents, and technical evidence.
The February 2020 clashes, sparked during anti-CAA protests, claimed 53 lives and injured hundreds in northeast Delhi. Police claim the conspiracy extended beyond the capital, with attempts to incite violence in states like Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, and Karnataka. The court accuses Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam of being key instigators who provoked crowds.
Further, the affidavit accuses the petitioners of deliberately stalling proceedings through frivolous pleas, obstructing justice.
Represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, along with advocates Rajat Nair and Dhruv Pande, Delhi Police urged the court to deny bail. The matter is slated for hearing on October 31.
This development reignites debates on the riots’ motives, blending politics, protest, and international diplomacy.
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