3 Things SC's bail order in Delhi riot case, Ankita Bhandari murder, and SIR updates
Jan 8, 2026
Aishwarya Raj, a dedicated reporter at The Indian Express specializing in regional news, discusses the Ankita Bhandari murder case and the fierce protests it has sparked in Uttarakhand. New evidence, including videos implicating a BJP leader, has reignited public outrage. She delves into the details of the murder investigation and the socio-political fallout, highlighting demands for a CBI probe. Additionally, the conversation touches on the Supreme Court's bail order in the Northeast Delhi riots case and its implications for accused activists.
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Conspiracy Case Built From Circumstantial Threads
- The Delhi Police's conspiracy case strings together speeches, WhatsApp messages and protected-witness claims to frame a larger terror plot.
- Apoorva Vishwanath says the evidence is circumstantial and pieced together rather than direct.
Court Creates Hierarchy Among Co-accused
- The Supreme Court granted bail to five accused but denied it to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam by creating a hierarchy of offenders.
- The court accepted the prosecution's narrative without fully examining the evidence, says Apoorva Vishwanath.
Flawed Logic In Grading Conspiracy Roles
- Applying ordinary criminal notions of differing participation to a UAPA conspiracy is problematic.
- Vishwanath warns that you cannot have 'lesser' and 'greater' conspiracies when conspiracy requires a meeting of minds.