(January 5, 2025)
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) relating to the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the February 2020 riots in North-East Delhi. Emphasising the seriousness of the allegations and the “central and pivotal role” attributed to the two accused by the prosecution, the Court held that no case for bail was made out at this stage.
A Bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria, however, granted conditional bail to five other co-accused, drawing a clear distinction between their alleged involvement and that of Mr. Khalid and Mr. Imam. The Court observed that the allegations against Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed were limited, peripheral, and ancillary in nature, and therefore merited differential treatment under the law.
