Activist Umar Khalid and scholar Sharjeel Imam have moved a Delhi Court seeking bail in the case alleging a larger conspiracy behind the 2020 North East Delhi riots, registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Vacation Judge Dr. Sumedh Kumar Sethi of Karkardooma Courts issued notices in the bail pleas and sought a response from the Delhi Police. The matter has been listed for hearing on July 4, 2026.
Background of the Case
The 2020 North East Delhi riots broke out in late February 2020, resulting in the deaths of over 50 people and injuries to hundreds more. Large-scale property damage was also reported. The Delhi Police subsequently registered multiple cases, including a case alleging a larger conspiracy, under the UAPA.
Umar Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student and activist, was arrested in September 2020. Sharjeel Imam, known for his speeches opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), was arrested in January 2020 in a separate case and was later named in the larger conspiracy case.
Prior Bail Applications
Both Khalid and Imam have previously sought bail and been refused by the trial court. Umar Khalid had his bail application rejected by the Karkardooma Sessions Court, and the Delhi High Court also declined to grant him bail, finding that there was prima facie material connecting him to the alleged conspiracy.
The Supreme Court had also declined to grant interim bail in earlier proceedings. The fresh bail applications now filed are regular bail pleas, likely to be heard afresh by the vacation bench.
Legal Framework Under UAPA
Under the UAPA, bail is subject to stringent conditions under Section 43D(5), which requires the court to be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing the accused is not guilty of the offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail. The Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in NIA v. Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali (2019) has guided courts in applying this stringent standard.
Significance
The case has been closely followed by civil society, human rights groups and legal observers. The fresh bail applications come at a time when there is renewed debate about the application of UAPA in cases involving activists and dissenters.
Court: Karkardooma Courts, Delhi | Source: LiveLaw | June 2026
