Delhi High Court rejects third bail pleas by Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam

The Delhi High Court has rejected the third bail applications of student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the case concerning an alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 north-east Delhi riots. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Dinesh Bhatt said it could not alter conditions set by the Supreme Court in an order dated January 5. That order directed the two accused to seek bail either after protected witnesses had been examined or after one year from the date of the order, whichever came first.

The High Court said it was bound by judicial discipline and could not modify those conditions. Khalid and Imam have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with allegations that they were among the organisers or masterminds of the alleged conspiracy. The Delhi Police’s Special Cell investigated the case.

The riots left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured, according to the supplied report. The violence occurred amid protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 and the proposed National Register of Citizens. Other accused in the wider case include activist Khalid Saifi and former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain.

Imam was arrested in the case on August 25, 2020, while Khalid was arrested on September 13 of that year. The High Court petitions followed a trial court decision rejecting their bail applications for the third time on July 4. The Delhi Police opposed bail and described the two men as masterminds.

The supplied material did not indicate that the High Court made findings determining their guilt.