Delhi Riots Conspiracy Case: HC Seeks Police Reply To Umar Khalid Bail Plea

Umar Khalid

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice regarding Umar Khalid’s bail plea related to the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Girish Kathpalia sought a response from the Delhi Police and scheduled the hearing for August 29.

On the same date, the court will also hear bail pleas from co-accused Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Shadab Ahmed, and Athar Khan. Additionally, the court will address the Delhi Police’s challenge to the bail granted to co-accused Ishrat Jahan.

Khalid’s second bail plea was rejected by the trial court on May 28, prompting him to appeal the decision to the High Court. This fresh bail plea follows his withdrawal of a similar request from the Supreme Court, challenging the Delhi High Court’s October 2022 denial of bail. Khalid’s first regular bail plea was dismissed by the trial court in March 2022.

Umar Khalid has been incarcerated since September 2020, awaiting trial for his alleged role in the February 2020 communal violence in Delhi. He, along with others such as Pinjra Tod members Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha, and student activist Gulfisha Fatima, faces charges under various sections of the UAPA, Arms Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

Other individuals charge-sheeted in the case include former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, Meeran Haider, and Shifa-Ur-Rehman, former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain, and activists Khalid Saifi, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Mohd Salim Khan, and Athar Khan.