The Supreme Court on Monday, January 5, refused bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case, while granting relief to five other accused — Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad. The bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria had reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S V Raju for the Delhi police, and senior advocates representing the accused, on December 10.
Why Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam Remain in Jail
Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and the others were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant IPC provisions, accused of being the “masterminds” behind the riots that left 53 people dead and over 700 injured during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and NRC.
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The court said Khalid and Imam stand on a “qualitatively different footing” due to their central roles in planning, mobilisation, and strategic direction. It noted that prolonged incarceration does not override statutory safeguards, and that trial delays do not automatically entitle them to bail. The five other accused were deemed to have lesser involvement.
