A Delhi court rejected jailed student activist Umar Khalid’s plea for interim bail to attend his uncle’s Chehlum and care for his ailing mother. Khalid sought 15 days’ temporary release under specific legal sections but was denied by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai. The court found the reasons presented for bail not compelling enough, stating that Khalid had previously been granted bail and must be assessed on each application’s merits.
Khalid’s plea mentioned his uncle’s recent passing and his mother’s upcoming surgery, scheduled for June 2. The court, however, noted that Khalid’s family members, including his sisters and father, could provide support during his mother’s surgery. Despite Khalid being the eldest son and the only male member in the family, the court deemed the reasons for bail as insufficient. The judge emphasized that attending the Chehlum ceremony and assisting his mother did not warrant temporary release in this instance.
The prosecution argued against Khalid’s plea, stating that the grounds raised were not strong enough to justify his release. The court observed that while Khalid had adhered to bail conditions in the past, the current circumstances did not warrant a grant of interim bail. The judge highlighted that the nature of the events cited by Khalid did not necessitate his presence and that his family could adequately support his mother during the surgery.
