The Supreme Court declined to grant bail to student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the case related to the 2020 Delhi riots. Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B. Varale stated that the evidence presented indicated a prima facie case against the two, falling under the statutory bar to bail as per the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The court noted their alleged involvement in planning, mobilization, and issuing strategic directions.
In contrast, bail was granted to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmed, who have been in custody for over five years. The court emphasized the need to evaluate each bail application independently, considering the varying levels of culpability among the accused. Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam were highlighted as being in a different category compared to the other defendants.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on the special leave petitions challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny bail in the “larger conspiracy” case linked to the 2020 riots. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, argued against the bail pleas, characterizing the violence as a preplanned assault on the nation’s sovereignty. He pointed to evidence such as speeches and WhatsApp chats to support the claim of an orchestrated attempt to stoke communal tensions.
