A Delhi court reserved its order on the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case after hearing both sides. The activists argued prolonged detention without trial violates their fundamental right to liberty.
India has responded to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s note to jailed activist Umar Khalid, stressing that public representatives must respect the independence of the judiciary in other democracies. The government said expressing personal views on ongoing legal matters does not suit those holding public office.
Today, On 5th January, Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said the Supreme Court must have had reasons for denying bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, but noted its judgments stress that long incarceration should weigh in favour of granting bail. He added that “there is no recompense for liberty once lost.”