New Delhi: Former JNU student Umar Khalid, an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, has approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of its January 5 order that denied him bail. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the review petition on Monday before a Bench led by Justice Aravind Kumar, requesting that the matter be heard in an open court rather than “in chamber,” which is the standard procedure for review petitions. The Bench stated it would examine the documents and decide if an open court hearing is necessary.
Khalid, who has been in custody since September 2020, was booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code for his alleged role in the violence that erupted in February 2020. The Supreme Court had previously rejected his bail plea, alongside that of co-accused Sharjeel Imam, citing their “central and formative role” in the planning and mobilization of the riots. The court had noted that the material presented by the prosecution suggested involvement at a strategic level, which met the high statutory threshold for denying bail under Section 43D (5) of the UAPA.
While Khalid and Imam remain in jail, the top court had granted bail to five other co-accused in January, including Gulfisha Fatima and Safoora Zargar, observing that their roles were subsidiary in nature. The 2020 Delhi riots, which occurred during the visit of then US President Donald Trump, resulted in 53 deaths and left hundreds injured. Khalid’s legal team continues to challenge the findings, emphasizing the length of his incarceration and the nature of the evidence against him as the case moves toward a Wednesday listing for the review.
