Supreme Court Denies Bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in Delhi Riots Case

Supreme Court's Decision on Bail Applications

The Supreme Court has rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in connection with the 2020 riots in Northeast Delhi. However, the court granted bail to Gulfiya Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammad Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmed. During the hearing, the bench comprising Justice Arvind Kumar and NV Anjari stated that both Khalid and Imam played a central role in the alleged offenses.

Court's Rationale

The apex court emphasized that the involvement of the two accused in the alleged crimes was significant. While acknowledging the lengthy duration of their incarceration, the court noted that it does not violate constitutional mandates or legal restrictions. The bench also ruled on the bail applications filed by Gulfiya Fatima and others.

What the Court Stated

The bench expressed satisfaction with the prosecution's evidence, indicating that prima facie charges against Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam were established. It was deemed inappropriate to release them on bail at this stage of the proceedings. On December 10, the Supreme Court reserved its decision after hearing arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Delhi Police, as well as senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Siddharth Dave, Salman Khurshid, and Siddharth Luthra for the accused.

Charges Under Anti-Terrorism Laws

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and other accused face charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They are alleged to be the "main conspirators" behind the riots that resulted in the deaths of 53 individuals and injuries to over 700 others in Northeast Delhi. This violence erupted during widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The accused have approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Delhi High Court's September 2 order, which denied them bail in the "larger conspiracy" case related to the February 2020 riots.