Former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid has approached the Supreme Court seeking bail in the larger conspiracy case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in relation to the 2020 North East Delhi riots. Earlier, two of his associates in the case including Sharjeel Imam had moved the Apex Court for bail.
Khalid has challenged the Delhi High Court's September 2 order in which he and eight others were denied bail.The riots occurred in February 2020 following clashes over the then-proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). As per the Delhi Police, the riots caused the death of 53 persons and injured hundreds.
The present case pertains to allegations that the accused had hatched a larger conspiracy to cause multiple riots. The FIR in this case was registered by a Special Cell of the Delhi Police under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the UAPA.
Most of the accused were booked in multiple FIRs, leading to multiple bail petitions before different courts. Most have been in custody since 2020.
Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020 and charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly as well as several other offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).He has been in jail since then. This is the second time he has approached the High Court for bail.
The trial court had first denied bail to him in March 2022. He then approached the High Court. which also denied him relief in October 2022, prompting him to file an appeal before the top court.In May 2023, the Supreme Court sought the response of the Delhi Police in the matter. His plea before the top court was then adjourned 14 times.
On February 14, 2024, he withdrew his bail plea from the Supreme Court citing a change in circumstances.On May 28, the trial court rejected his second bail petition. Appeal against the same was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on September 2.
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