The Delhi High Court on December 3 granted interim protection from arrest to prominent human rights activist Nadeem Khan, who faces charges related to promoting enmity and criminal conspiracy. Khan, the National Secretary of the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), is accused of inciting violence during an event that criticized anti-Muslim violence in India. The court’s order prevents Khan’s arrest until Friday, while also directing him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Khan was instructed to join the probe and refrain from leaving Delhi without permission. The court also issued notices on petitions filed by Khan and APCR, including a request to quash the Delhi Police FIR, which alleges that a video posted on social media, featuring Khan, led to public outrage and could have incited violence.

The FIR cites a video titled “Records of Hindustan in Modi Sarkar,” which allegedly shows a person at an exhibition linked to APCR, discussing the victims of various incidents, including the 2020 Shaheen Bagh protests and the Delhi pogrom. The Delhi Police claims that the video, attributed to Khan, was designed to provoke hostility between communities. However, Khan’s defense team, led by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, argued that the FIR lacked solid evidence and accused the complainant of drawing conclusions without substantiated facts. Sibal further contended that the accusations were based on mere conjecture, not on any genuine criminal activity.

The case has drawn significant attention from human rights organizations and activists, particularly following the raid on APCR’s office in Delhi and subsequent intimidation tactics directed at Khan. On November 29, Delhi Police searched APCR’s office without a warrant, and the following day, officers attempted to force Khan to return to Delhi for questioning. The incident has been condemned by various groups, including the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), which has demanded the quashing of the FIR and accountability for the police officers involved in the alleged harassment and unlawful actions.