The Delhi High Court on Wednesday deferred the bail for activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in a case related to the alleged bigger conspiracy behind the incidents of violence in the northeast district of the City during riots in February 2020.
The trial bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Dinesh Bhatt rejected fresh bail pleas by the imprisoned criminals, who sought the court’s help earlier this month. The court could not overrule the directions of the Supreme Court, about when its request for bail can be re-applied, it said.
The Supreme Court on January 5, 2026, had granted provisional release to the two accused after the examination of protected witnesses for the prosecution was recorded or a year after issuing the order. The Delhi High Court observed that it had to follow Supreme Court’s directions.
Khalid and Imam are booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in relation to an alleged bigger conspiracy behind the February 2020 violence in the northeast part of the city. These riots had occurred in the protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the proposed National Register of Citizens.
According to prosecution figures quoted in court proceedings, 53 people lost their lives in the violence and “there were over 700 injured. Other individuals, such as activist Khalid Saifi and ex-AAP councillor Tahir Hussain are also on the accused list.
Khalid was arrested in September 2020, Imam was arrested in August 2020. Throughout the proceedings, both men have sought to be released on bail but been denied.
The latest bail pleas by the prosecution have been opposed as per the directions issued by Supreme Court and the prohibition of Section 43D(5) of UAPA. The Delhi Police has also contended that what Khalid and Imam alleged of the roles they played differs from those of some of the co-accused who have got bail.
In unrelated news, a Delhi court recently granted interim bail for seven days, from October 4-10, to Imam as he prepares to attend his cousin’s wedding.