Umar Khalid granted 7-day interim bail in 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case

A Delhi court on Dec 18 approved a seven-day interim bail for former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) scholar Umar Khalid.

He is facing charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly being part of a larger conspiracy behind the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts granted Khalid interim bail, enabling him to attend a family wedding.

While allowing the temporary release, the court laid down stringent conditions aimed at preventing any possible interference in the ongoing legal proceedings.

Conditions Imposed by the Court:

No Contact with Witnesses or Case-Related Persons: Khalid must avoid any direct or indirect communication with witnesses or individuals linked to the case.

Social Media Ban: He is strictly prohibited from using any social media platforms during the bail period.

Restricted Social Interaction and Movement: His interactions are limited to close family members, relatives, and friends. He must remain either at his residence or at venues associated with the wedding ceremonies.

Additionally, the court instructed Khalid to surrender to the concerned Jail Superintendent by the evening of January 3, 2025, marking the end of his interim bail period.

Legal Background:

Khalid's attempts to secure regular bail have faced multiple setbacks. In Oct 2022, the Delhi High Court dismissed his first regular bail plea. Following this, he approached the Supreme Court but later withdrew his Special Leave Petition (SLP). Undeterred, he filed a second regular bail application before the trial court, which was again rejected earlier this year.

His appeal challenging the denial of the second regular bail plea remains pending before the Delhi High Court.

Case Overview:

The case against Khalid is registered as FIR 59 of 2020 by the Delhi Police's Special Cell. It involves various charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and UAPA, reflecting the serious nature of the alleged conspiracy.

Several prominent individuals have been named as co-accused in the case, including Tahir Hussain, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Saleem Malik, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Athar Khan, Safoora Zargar, Sharjeel Imam, Faizan Khan, and Natasha Narwal.

As the legal proceedings continue, the case remains one of the most closely watched trials linked to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, drawing significant public and legal attention.