Delhi Court Rejects Bail for Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in 2020 Riots Conspiracy

On July 4, 2026 the Karkardooma Court in Delhi, headed by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai, dismissed the regular bail applications of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The applicants are accused in a larger conspiracy case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) linked to the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots that left 53 dead. The court held it was bound by the Supreme Court’s January 5, 2026 order that denied them bail and stipulated that bail could be considered only after protected witnesses are examined or after one year passes. The judge said the applications were not maintainable and therefore dismissed them.

Khalid and Imam have been in judicial custody for nearly six years, and the trial has not progressed to charge‑framing. Their defence argued that later Supreme Court judgments (e.g., the Andrabi and Gulfisha Fatima cases) reflected a change in circumstances that should allow bail, but the trial court rejected this, noting the pending reference to a larger bench. The prosecution reiterated that the Supreme Court’s binding direction remains in force. Earlier, the Supreme Court had granted bail to several co‑accused while withholding it from Khalid and Imam.

The decision underscores the ongoing legal battle over the application of anti‑terror legislation to political protestors and the broader debate on prolonged pre‑trial detention.