Umar Khalid Granted Interim Bail In Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case To Attend Sister's Wedding

A Delhi Court on Thursday (December 11) granted interim bail to former JNU scholar and activist Umar Khalid in relation to the UAPA case alleging a larger conspiracy related to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Khalid had sought interim bail to attend his sister's wedding.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts granted interim bail to Khalid commencing from December 16 to 29, on furnishing of personal bond of Rs.20.000 with two sureties of like amount.

Khalid has been directed not to contact any witness and any person in connection with the case. He has been asked to provide his mobile number to the investigating officer and to keep it open till the period of interim bail.

“During the interim bail period, the applicant shall not use the social media. During the interim bail period, the applicant shall only meet his family members, relatives and friends. Further, he shall remain at his home or at the places where the ceremonies of marriage as mentioned by him will take place,” the Court said.

The judge has directed Khalid to surrender himself in the evening of December 29 before the Superintendent of Prison of the concerned jail.

In December last year, the judge had granted interim bail for 7 days to Khalid for attending a wedding in the family.

Earlier, in 2022, he was granted interim bail for a week to attend his sister's marriage ceremony.

Umar Khalid was denied bail in October 2022 by the Delhi High Court. He then approached the Supreme Court but later withdrew his SLP. A second regular bail plea was filed by him in the trial court which was rejected.

He then approached the Delhi High Court again challenging the rejection of his second regular bail plea.

On September 02, a division bench of the Delhi High Court, observing that prima facie, the role of Umar Khalid in the entire conspiracy is “grave”, having delivered inflammatory speeches on communal lines to “instigate mass mobilization of members of the Muslim community.” Against this Khalid had moved the Supreme Court. 

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on bail pleas filed by Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima & other accused persons In Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case. 

FIR 59 of 2020 was registered by Delhi Police's Special Cell under various offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The accused in the case are Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Isharat 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.