SC reserves order on bail pleas by Umar Khalid, others accused in Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy’

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on applications for bail filed by activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and the others accused of being part of an alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots, The Indian Express reported.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria concluded hearing the petitions filed by Khalid, Imam, along with Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Muhammad Saleem Khan, Shifa-ur-Rehman and Shadab Ahmed, jointly challenging the Delhi High Court’s September 2 judgement dismissing their bail petitions.

During the proceedings on Wednesday, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Delhi Police, claimed that the acts of one conspirator could be attributed to the others, Bar and Bench reported.

“Sharjeel Imam’s speeches can be attributed to Umar Khalid,” Raju said. “Sharjeel Imam’s case will be considered as evidence against the others.”

Reserving its matter in the riots case, the Supreme Court said that it would take a decision in the matter before it closes for winter break on December 19. The bench also directed all parties to compile and submit relevant documents before December 18.

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...

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