2020 Delhi riots case: Delhi High Court refuses bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam
The Delhi High Court has rejected the third bail plea of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam regarding their alleged involvement in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. The court maintained that it could not override a previous Supreme Court order that set specific conditions for their bail eligibility.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing legal debates surrounding the application of the UAPA and the judicial handling of high-profile political dissent cases in India.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) rejected the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in a case concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 North-East Delhi riots.
A Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Dinesh Bhatt dismissed the duo’s third bail applications in the case.
The court said it could not alter the Supreme Court’s January 5 order, which permitted Mr. Khalid and Mr. Imam to seek bail upon completion of the examination of protected witnesses or on the expiry of one year from the date of the order, whichever is earlier.
Both are accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with allegations that they were among the “masterminds” of the conspiracy behind the riots, in which 53 people were killed and more than 700 injured.
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