The Delhi High Court has scheduled September 30 for hearing the bail challenges filed by former Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar Umar Khalid and activist Sharjeel Imam in connection with the case concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.
A Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Dinesh Bhatt deferred the matter on Monday after the prosecution sought an adjournment, citing the illness of Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, who is appearing for the State.
Khalid and Imam are challenging the trial court’s July 4, 2026 decision declining them regular bail. The petitions have been filed before the High Court under Section 21 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008.
Khalid has challenged the rejection of his third bail plea, while Imam has independently questioned the refusal of bail in the proceedings arising from FIR No. 59 of 2020 registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell.
The case relates to allegations of a broader conspiracy underlying the communal violence that erupted in parts of North-East Delhi in February 2020. The prosecution has invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, along with offences under the Indian Penal Code.
The trial court, while declining bail in July, relied upon the Supreme Court’s earlier directions concerning the accused. It noted that the apex court had permitted a fresh consideration of bail after the examination of protected witnesses was completed or after the lapse of one year from the date of its order, whichever occurred earlier.
The Supreme Court had earlier granted bail to several accused in the larger case, including Gulfisha Fatima, Meera Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammed Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed, while Khalid and Imam did not receive similar relief.
The interpretation of the stringent bail threshold under the UAPA has also featured prominently in the subsequent proceedings. Questions have arisen before the Delhi High Court concerning the manner in which the Supreme Court’s decisions, including Union of India v. K.A. Najeeb, are to be applied where an accused has remained incarcerated for a prolonged period and the trial has not concluded.
In May, another Division Bench of the High Court, while considering the bail proceedings concerning Khalid and Imam, noted issues relating to the interpretation of the applicable precedents and referred the legal question for consideration by a larger Bench.
The High Court will now take up the two bail matters on September 30. The proceedings form part of the continuing litigation arising from the 2020 Delhi riots case, in which several accused face prosecution under the UAPA and other penal provisions.
The post Delhi Riots UAPA case: Delhi High Court to hear Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail pleas on September 30 appeared first on India Legal.