Today, On 5th January, The Supreme Court denied bail to student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots. Umar Khalid said, “Jail is my life now; happy for others who got bail.”
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today denied bail to student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in connection with the “larger conspiracy case” associated with the 2020 Delhi riots.
A bench consisting of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B. Varale stated that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against Khalid and Imam, leading to the statutory prohibition on bail under Section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The apex Court granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad, while rejecting the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Umar Khalid said,
“Jail is my life now; happy for others who got bail.”
His partner, Banjyosna Lahiri, mentioned that he felt happy and relieved for the co-accused who received bail, while he acknowledged that prison has become his new reality.
Sharing Khalid’s response on X, Lahiri quoted him saying,
“I am really happy for the others who got bail. So relieved.”
When she informed him that she would visit the following day for a meeting, Khalid responded,
“Good, good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai.”
This statement reflects his resignation to the legal process while acknowledging the bail granted to other accused in the same matter.
All seven individuals had contested the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny them bail related to the stringent UAPA, which pertains to the alleged broader conspiracy behind the Delhi riots.
Justice Aravind Kumar read a comprehensive judgment before delivering the verdict.
In rejecting the bail requests of Khalid and Imam, the Supreme Court affirmed that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence indicating their participation in the criminal conspiracy.
The Court distinguished the charges against each individual involved, emphasizing that all cannot be treated equally for bail considerations.
The bench stated,
“Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam stand on a qualitatively different footing as compared to other accused, The hierarchy of participation requires the court to assess each application individually.”
The judgment also included technical elements, such as observations that bail should not be a venue for assessing defenses, and that judicial restraint does not equate to neglect of duty.
A structured inquiry is necessary to determine whether prima facie offences exist and if the accused’s role has a reasonable connection to the crime.
According to the Delhi Police, the accused’s actions constituted a deliberate effort to undermine the state and were not mere spontaneous protests. They purportedly orchestrated a “pan-India” conspiracy aimed at “regime change” and “economic strangulation.”
The conspiracy was reportedly planned to coincide with the visit of US President Donald Trump to India, aiming to attract international media attention and globalize the issue surrounding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was strategically chosen as a “radicalizing catalyst” disguised as a “peaceful protest.”
Imam surrendered to authorities in January 2020, while Khalid was arrested in September of that year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Rights organizations like Amnesty International have condemned the lengthy incarceration of the student activistsover five years to dateand described it as an “exemplification of derailment of justice.”
Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar commented on the Supreme Court’s recent decision to deny bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam regarding the 2020 north-east Delhi riots.
He expressed concerns about the implications of prolonged detention, stating,
“Long incarceration itself should matter when considering bail.”
In remarks made to media, Kumar noted that judicial decisions rely on the evidence presented but highlighted that civil libertarians are likely troubled by the ongoing detention of these two individuals.
The outbreak of violence was linked to protests against the proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), resulting in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries.
These individuals have been in custody for more than five years, facing serious charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The activists had earlier approached the Delhi High Court seeking bail but were denied relief.
Previously, bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N. V. Anjaria reserved its ruling on the bail applications submitted by the accused on December 10.
Previously, The Delhi Police firmly opposed the release of student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and three others charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case.
Earlier, The Delhi alleged that they were the “masterminds” behind the large-scale violence that broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
Khalid’s bail pleas have been repeatedly rejected. The trial court denied his request in March 2022, and the Delhi High Court refused his appeals in October 2022 and again on September 2, 2024.
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