New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots, dealing a setback to the accused who have been in custody for over five years.
A bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria delivered the ruling after reserving its decision on December 10. The verdict covered separate bail petitions filed by seven individuals accused in the case.
Khalid and Imam, along with Gulfisha Fatima, Meera Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Md Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed, were arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. They are accused of playing key roles in an alleged larger plot that, according to investigators, led to widespread violence in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
The riots, which coincided with protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), resulted in the deaths of 53 people and injuries to more than 700 others. The unrest took place during the visit of then US President Donald Trump to India, a factor cited by the police to underline the seriousness of the alleged conspiracy.
In addition to charges under the UAPA, the accused face multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, sedition, promoting enmity between groups, and making statements likely to incite public disorder. Investigators have alleged that the actions of the accused questioned the sovereignty and unity of the country and were intended to generate widespread disaffection.
The Delhi Police has consistently opposed bail, describing the violence as a carefully planned operation rather than a spontaneous outbreak. Prosecutors have argued that the events were part of a coordinated effort carried out under the cover of protest, posing a direct threat to national integrity.
The case has also drawn international attention. Zohran Mamdani, recently sworn in as New York City’s first Muslim mayor, had written a letter expressing support for Umar Khalid. Separately, a group of US lawmakers addressed a communication to India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, calling for a fair and expeditious trial in line with international legal standards.
With the Supreme Court’s decision, the accused will continue to remain in judicial custody as the trial proceeds.
