New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and seven others booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots.
A division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur ruled that “all the appeals are dismissed” while reserving a detailed order. The accused, including Khalid, Imam, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmed, have been incarcerated since 2020.
The prosecution argued that the riots were not spontaneous but a planned conspiracy intended to malign India’s image. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asserted that “if you do anything against your nation, you better be in jail till you are acquitted.”
The defense countered that Khalid and Imam were being punished for their dissent. Imam’s lawyer stated his client was “completely disconnected” from the events and other accused, stressing that his speeches and chats did not incite unrest. Lawyers also highlighted the prolonged detention and compared their clients’ position to others granted bail.
The violence during protests against CAA and NRC claimed 53 lives and injured more than 700. Critics argue the denial of bail despite four years of imprisonment shows how process itself becomes punishment. They describe the case as an example of justice delayed and justice denied.
