Arguing before a Delhi court in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain pointed out on Friday that the WhatsApp chats relied upon by the prosecuting agency do not instruct anyone to pick up weapons or indulge in violence.
Only ‘chakka jam’ and peaceful protests were mentioned in the chats relied upon by the Delhi Police Special Cell which is investigating the case, the counsel said. The court of Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai was hearing arguments on framing charges in the case pertaining to the February 2020 riots.
“Nowhere in the WhatsApp messages is it mentioned that we should pick up weapons against the Government of India or its agencies,” argued Advocate Rajiv Mohan, representing Hussain.
Hussain and 17 others in the case have been charged under stringent provisions of the UAPA. Of the 18 accused arrested in this case, six are on bail and 12 are still in judicial custody.
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