The Supreme Court is set to announce its decision on the bail requests of seven individuals, including student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, linked to the alleged “larger conspiracy” in the 2020 Delhi riots case. The bail applications have been submitted by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed, and Mohd. The judgment is scheduled to be delivered by a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B. Varale on Monday, as per the causelist on the Apex Court’s website.
Saleem Khan, who is facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has been in custody for over five years. The Supreme Court had previously reserved its decision on a set of special leave petitions challenging the Delhi High Court’s denial of bail to the accused in the 2020 riots “larger conspiracy” case on December 10. Following arguments from both sides, the Bench led by Justice Kumar instructed the petitioners and the prosecution to submit any additional documents supporting their arguments by December 18.
During the hearings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, opposed the bail pleas, asserting that the violence was not a spontaneous communal clash but a meticulously planned assault on the nation’s sovereignty. Mehta highlighted speeches, WhatsApp conversations, and other evidence to suggest a deliberate effort to stoke communal divisions. He also mentioned that the delay in trial proceedings was due to the accused’s lack of cooperation, alleging that they were intentionally prolonging the process.
On September 2 last year, the Delhi High Court had rejected the bail petitions of Khalid, Imam, and other accused in the case, stating that a prima facie case under the UAPA existed against them.
