The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected bail for activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and seven others who are accused in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) linked to the February 2020 riots.

The court’s bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur dismissed the bail pleas of Khalid, Imam, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima, and Shadab Ahmed. A detailed order explaining the decision is yet to be released.

All the accused have been in jail since 2020. They had approached the high court after a trial court refused to grant them bail. The prosecution argued that the riots were planned in advance and were part of a well-thought-out conspiracy with a motive to defame India internationally. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the prosecution, said that long imprisonment alone is not a reason for bail, and those who act against the country should remain in jail until acquitted.

Imam’s lawyers argued that he had no connection with the place, time, or other accused, including Khalid. They also said his speeches and WhatsApp messages never encouraged any violence.

About the riot

Khalid, Imam, and others are accused of being the “masterminds” behind the Delhi riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence occurred during protests against the CAA and NRC.

The bail pleas of some accused had been pending since 2022 and were heard by different benches at various times. Delhi Police said the riots were a case of planned communal violence and claimed speeches and messages by the accused created fear and tension. They added that in serious cases like this, the principle of “bail is the rule, jail is the exception” does not apply.

The police also denied delaying trial proceedings and said the right to a speedy trial does not automatically guarantee bail.