Supreme Court Refuses Bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in UAPA Case

Srinagar: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the bail pleas of student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, upholding an earlier Delhi High Court order that had denied them relief in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots.

A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria pronounced the order while hearing the appeals challenging the High Court’s decision.

Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020 in connection with the case. Sharjeel Imam, who was already in judicial custody at the time of the riots in connection with other cases, is also named as an accused in the Delhi Police’s larger conspiracy chargesheet.

The February 2020 violence in northeast Delhi left 53 people dead, injured hundreds, and caused extensive damage to property and livelihoods. Investigations by the Delhi Police have focused on an alleged conspiracy linked to protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), naming several student activists and political figures.