SC denies bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in Delhi riots larger conspiracy case

The Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who are accused of being part of an alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots, reported Live Law.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria allowed the bail applications of Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed and Muhammad Saleem Khan in the matter.

The bench was hearing their petitions jointly challenging the Delhi High Court’s September 2 judgement dismissing their bail applications. The judgement in the plea had been reserved on December 10.

The activists were arrested between January 2020 and September 2020 in connection with the communal violence that broke out in North East Delhi in February 2020 between supporters of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and those opposing it. The violence had left 53 dead and hundreds injured. Most of those killed were Muslims.

The accused were charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the Arms Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The police have claimed that the violence was part of a larger conspiracy to defame the Narendra Modi government and was planned by those who organised the protests against the amended Citizenship Act.

On Monday, the bench said that Khalid and Imam can file bail applications...

Read more