Supreme Court justifies denial of bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in Delhi riots case
The Supreme Court justified the denial of bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots conspiracy case, citing serious allegations under the UAPA.
by Zee Media Bureau · Zee NewsThe Supreme Court bench justified the denial of bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots conspiracy case, clarifying that bail was denied not because Article 21 was less important, but because the court considered the allegations and their alleged roles in the conspiracy serious enough under the provisions of the UAPA.
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Notably, in the bail cases, Article 21 is often invoked to argue that a person should not be kept in jail for an excessively long period without trial, as personal liberty is a fundamental right.
Khalid has been in jail since September 2020 in the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 Delhi riots. The prosecution has alleged that the violence was part of a pre-planned conspiracy connected to protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Khalid has consistently denied all allegations against him.
Umar Khalid seeks interim bail
Earlier, Khalid approached the Delhi High Court seeking interim bail for 15 days, from May 22 to June 5, and also challenged the trial court’s May 19 order rejecting his request for temporary release in the northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case.
The appeal, filed under Section 21(4) of the National Investigation Agency Act, stated that Khalid sought interim bail to attend the Chehlum ceremony of his deceased maternal uncle and to care for his 62-year-old mother, who is scheduled to undergo lump excision surgery on June 2.
However, the trial court dismissed his interim bail plea on May 19, saying the reasons given for temporary release were “not reasonable”. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Courts observed that attending the Chehlum ceremony was “not that necessary”. The court also said Khalid’s father and sisters could look after his mother during her surgery.
The court order came despite Khalid being granted interim bail on multiple occasions in the past, including short-term bail in 2022, 2024 and 2025. On each occasion, he surrendered before authorities on time and complied with the bail conditions.
In December last year, a Delhi court had granted Khalid interim bail for 14 days to attend his sister’s wedding. The relief came with strict conditions, including restrictions on his movement and use of social media during the bail period.
Delhi riots case and UAPA charges against Umar Khalid
Khalid remains in custody under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and several other charges linked to the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the 2020 Delhi riots.
According to the Delhi Police, a group of student activists involved in organising anti-CAA protests during 2019 and 2020 allegedly conspired to trigger the riots that broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court dismissed the regular bail pleas of Umar Khalid and co-accused Sharjeel Imam. The court said the material presented by the prosecution disclosed prima facie grounds that attracted the statutory restrictions on bail under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA.
In April this year, the Supreme Court also dismissed Khalid’s review petition challenging the earlier order denying him bail.
(With agencies' inputs.)