Delhi High Court Denies Bail to 2020 Riots Accused Athar Khan, Cites Witness Tampering Risk
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to Athar Khan, an accused in the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. A division bench of Justices Prathiba Singh and Madhu Jain observed that his role has been 'prima facie established in causing death and violence as also the destruction of private and public property.'
The court noted that Khan had not challenged earlier bail rejection orders and that statements from witnesses indicated that, if released on bail, he would likely influence witnesses. The bench further stated that Khan would not qualify for bail 'even if the normal conditions of bail are applied.'
The riots erupted on February 24, 2020, on a service road near Chand Bagh on Wazirabad Road in Delhi, leading to widespread violence and loss of life. The larger conspiracy case involves allegations of a coordinated plan behind the violence.
