National News
Supreme Court Denies Bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in 2020 Delhi Riots Case
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, observing that both accused played a central and formative role in the alleged conspiracy and therefore stood on a “qualitatively different footing” from other accused.
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, observing that both accused played a central and formative role in the alleged conspiracy and therefore stood on a “qualitatively different footing” from other accused.
A Bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria held that while prolonged pre-trial detention raises concerns under Article 21 of the Constitution, the material on record justified continued custody of Khalid and Imam.
“The record discloses that all the appellants do not stand on equal footing as regards culpability. The hierarchy of participation requires the court to assess each application individually. This exercise does not dismantle the prosecution case of conspiracy,” the Bench said.
The court, however, granted bail to five other accused—Gulfisha Fatima, Meera Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Md Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed—noting that their alleged roles were distinct and less central to the prosecution’s case.
The verdict came after the court had reserved its judgment on December 10 on separate bail petitions filed by the seven accused, all of whom have been in judicial custody for over five years. They were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, along with provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
The accused face charges including criminal conspiracy, sedition, promoting enmity between groups, and acts allegedly undermining the sovereignty and integrity of India. Delhi Police has described them as the “masterminds” of a larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots, which broke out during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The violence, which coincided with the visit of then US President Donald Trump, claimed 53 lives and left over 700 people injured.
During the hearing, Delhi Police opposed the bail pleas, terming the riots an “orchestrated, pre-planned and well-designed” attack on the sovereignty of the country, allegedly carried out under the guise of peaceful protests.
The case has drawn international attention, with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently writing a letter in support of Umar Khalid. A group of US lawmakers had also urged Indian authorities to ensure a fair and timely trial in accordance with international legal standards.
