Umar Khalid Granted Temporary Bail: What It Means for His Case

Delhi High Court Approves Interim Bail for Activist

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has granted activist Umar Khalid a three-day interim bail, allowing him to leave custody in connection with a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) related to the February 2020 riots in the northeastern region of the city.

Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain approved Khalid's release from June 1 to June 3, enabling him to visit his mother, who is scheduled for surgery.

The court acknowledged that while the Supreme Court had previously denied Khalid's regular bail request on January 5, it decided to grant this temporary relief based on an 'empathetic view.'

The court stated, 'Taking an empathetic view, this court is inclined to grant him interim bail for three days from June 1 to June 3 to enable the appellant to spend time with his mother.'

S V Raju, the Additional Solicitor General representing the Delhi Police, argued that Khalid should be allowed to visit his mother with police supervision due to her minor surgical procedure.

This ruling came as the court reviewed Khalid's appeal against a May 19 decision from the trial court that had rejected his request for interim bail.

Khalid had sought 15 days of interim bail to attend a post-death ritual for his uncle and to assist his mother during her recovery.

However, the trial court deemed attending the ceremony as 'not that necessary' and noted that other family members could care for his mother.

Khalid faces charges under the UAPA, accused of being a key figure in the February 2020 riots that resulted in 53 fatalities and over 700 injuries.

The unrest was sparked by protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) of 2019 and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Other activists, including Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, and former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain, are also implicated in this broader conspiracy, which is under investigation by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.

On September 2, 2025, a bench comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur denied bail to Imam, Khalid, Miran Haider, and other defendants in this case.