Delhi riots 2020: HC yet again refuses bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in UAPA case

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the case concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 north-east Delhi riots.

A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Dinesh Bhatt dismissed their third bail pleas in the case, which is being prosecuted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The court said it could not modify an order passed by the Supreme Court on 5 January, which allowed Khalid and Imam to seek bail either after the examination of protected witnesses was completed or after one year from the order, whichever was earlier.

Khalid and Imam were arrested in September and August 2020 respectively in the case, which relates to allegations of a larger conspiracy behind the riots. The violence left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.

The riots broke out in north-east Delhi in February 2020 amid protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens.

Activist Khalid Saifi and former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, among others, are also accused in the case, which was investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell.

The latest bail pleas were filed after a trial court rejected their applications for the third time on 4 July. Delhi Police had opposed the pleas and described Khalid and Imam as “masterminds” of the alleged conspiracy.

The High Court's decision marks the third time it has refused bail to the two in the case.