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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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.
UAPA Bail Hearings Avoid Evidence Scrutiny
- The Supreme Court routinely avoids probing UAPA evidence at bail stage, treating hearings as 'not a mini trial.'
- This creates inconsistent outcomes that depend heavily on which bench hears the case.
Broadening 'Terror' Through "Any Other Means"
- The key legal debate is whether acts like road blockades qualify as 'terror' under UAPA's "any other means" clause.
- Vishwanath explains earlier high court orders treated such acts as ordinary crimes, not terrorism.