Get a detailed chronology of the February 2020 Delhi riots, exploring key events, causes, and outcomes. Understand what happened during the unrest and its impact on the city.
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NEW DELHI: Between February 22–25, 2020, Northeast Delhi experienced deadly communal clashes linked to protests for and against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The district, highly dense and with poor infrastructure, witnessed over 50 deaths, injuries to 76 police officers, and damage to both Hindu and Muslim religious sites.
The violence began with anti-CAA protests, escalated as pro-CAA crowds clashed, and involved arson, stone-pelting, and stockpiled weapons. Investigations suggest the unrest was premeditated, with strategic use of women and children to impede police intervention.
Delhi Police, despite casualties, including the death of a head constable, acted to restore order. Post-violence measures included 654 FIRs, 1,638 arrests, the formation of Special Investigation Teams, and community peace committees. Authorities, including PM Modi, emphasized restoration of harmony and normalcy.
Chronology of Events
February 2020:
Communal violence broke out in northeast Delhi during anti-CAA protests. The clashes led to the deaths of 54 people and injuries to over 700. Prominent activists, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, were later accused of being the “masterminds” behind the violence.
August 2020:
Sharjeel Imam was arrested in the larger conspiracy case linked to the riots.
September 2020:
Umar Khalid was arrested in connection with the larger conspiracy. Several other accused were also taken into custody around the same time.
2022:
The trial court dismissed bail pleas of the accused, holding that the allegations against them were serious and required a full trial.
2022–2024:
Multiple accused persons, including Khalid and Imam, moved the Delhi High Court challenging the rejection of their bail pleas by trial courts.
July 9:
The Delhi High Court reserved its order on the bail pleas of the accused.
September 2:
In a significant development, the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail appeals of 10 accused: Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima, Shadab Ahmed, and Tasleem Ahmed.
The Delhi High Court rejected bail pleas of former JNU students Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and seven others in the UAPA-linked conspiracy case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The nine accused cited prolonged trial delays, but Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur dismissed all appeals.
Umar Khalid, arrested in September 2020, argued minimal involvement in WhatsApp group messages and claimed his speeches were Gandhian in nature. Delhi Police, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, alleged the accused conspired to divide the nation on religious lines. Other co-accused also failed to secure bail despite arguments from senior advocates.
Khalid had previously sought relief from the trial court, High Court, and Supreme Court, withdrawing his Supreme Court plea in February 2024 due to changed circumstances.
FIRs and Alleged Offences
Several FIRs were registered against individuals accused of participating in rioting, arson, looting, and attacks. In one specific case, six men — Ishu Gupta, Prem Prakash, Raj Kumar, Manish Sharma, Rahul, and Amit — were accused of being part of a mob that allegedly indulged in rioting and arson on 25 February 2020. The police invoked serious charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
- Unlawful Assembly (Sections 143, 147, 148 IPC)
- Rioting and Armed with Deadly Weapons
- Mischief by Fire/Arson (Section 436 IPC)
- Robbery (Section 392 IPC)
- Other allied offences relating to the destruction of property and disturbing public order
The prosecution relied on alleged disclosures made by the accused during interrogation and the testimony of one police official, Head Constable Vikas, who was cited as the sole eyewitness.
Read Also: Umar Khalid’s UAPA Case| Delhi Court Reserves Order on Bail Plea
Previous Hearing
The Delhi High Court rejected bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and seven others in the UAPA-linked 2020 northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case. The accused argued that prolonged trial delays justified their release, but the Division Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur dismissed all appeals, noting that a hurried trial would be unfair to both the accused and the State.
The court highlighted that the police had submitted a 3,000-page chargesheet and 30,000 pages of electronic evidence, and that the trial was progressing at the stage of framing charges. Khalid and Imam were observed to have played serious roles, delivering inflammatory speeches that allegedly instigated communal tension. The Court emphasized the prima facie strength of evidence and allowed the trial to continue at its natural pace.
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Background of the Case
The 2020 Delhi riots occurred in February 2020 in the northeastern parts of the national capital, leading to widespread violence, communal clashes, and significant loss of life and property. The violence, which lasted several days, resulted in the deaths of at least 53 people and left around 700 others injured.
The riots were triggered amid protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and counter-protests, eventually escalating into violent clashes between different communities.
In the aftermath, the Delhi Police registered several FIRs, including a major one related to an alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the riots.
This particular conspiracy case was filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) — a stringent anti-terror law — and several student activists, civil society members, and political figures were named as accused.
One such accused is Tasleem Ahmed, who was arrested on June 24, 2020, for allegedly being involved in this broader conspiracy.
The charges against him and others include instigating violence and planning riots through protests and road blockades.
The case has seen significant delays, with over 700 witnesses listed, and even after five years, arguments on framing of charges are yet to be completed.
Due to the extended delay, several co-accused in the case — including Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, and Asif Iqbal Tanha — have already been granted bail by courts, citing the prolonged pre-trial detention and the right to a fair and speedy trial.
The matter remains ongoing, with increasing scrutiny over procedural delays and extended jail time without trial under harsh provisions of the UAPA.
