The Print published a wire report issued by Reuters that focused solely on the alleged Muslim victims of the Delhi Riots 2020, just before Delhi voted. The report was a clear attempt to paint a picture of unilateral suffering and victimhood.
Lahiri claimed that media channels branded Khalis as a “mastermind” of the Delhi riots without any evidence. She called the situation a “traffic comedy”. However, the Delhi Police chargesheet and arguments placed by the public prosecutor during his bail pleas pointed out that prima facie he was involved in the riots. Notably, it does not matter if the person who orchestrated the riots was present at the scene when violence broke out or not.
Hindus trying to legally reclaim Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the rightful abode of Lord Vishweshwara (Shiva) which was destroyed by Mughal tyrant Aurangzeb in the 17th century, is causing fear among Muslims of Varanasi, the CNN report claims.
On 10th April, during the bail hearing of anti-Hindu Delhi Riots accused Umar Khalid in Karkardooma Court, Delhi, the public prosecutor said a false narrative is being set in media and on social media to influence the judiciary
During the hearing, Prasad played a specific interview in open court. The interview was of Umar Khalid's father, SQR Ilyas, with TheWire's Arfa Khanum Sherwani.
The prosecution played an interview of Umar Khalid's father with The Wire's Arfa Kanum Sherwani to show how he was lying and creating a false narrative.
Defense Counsel Trideep Pais mentioned the WhatsApp chat that Umar Khalid had with actor Sushant Singh a few months after the riots took place in the Capital in February 2020