Delhi riots 2020: HC refuses to release Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in UAPA case | Today’s news
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to grant bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act UAPA for the “larger conspiracy” behind the February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi.
Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Dinesh Bhatt rejected Khalid and Sharjeel’s third bail plea in the case.
The court said it could not change the Supreme Court’s January 5 order requiring the two accused to apply for bail either after completion of the examination of protected witnesses or after one year from the order, whichever is earlier.
Khalid and Imam were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) over allegations that they were one of the masterminds behind the February 2020 riots that left 53 dead and more than 700 injured.
Violence erupted during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019 and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Activist Khalid Saifi and former AAP councilor Tahir Hussain, among others, were also charged for their alleged involvement in a larger conspiracy case being investigated by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.
They moved the high court earlier this year after their bail pleas were rejected by the court for the third time on July 4. Imam was arrested in the case on 25 August 2020, while Khalid was arrested on 13 September 2020.
The Delhi Police opposed the pleas in the high court, claiming the two were the “masterminds” of the riots.
