Delhi Riots: Court Denies Interim Bail To Umar Khalid, Says Grounds Raised Are 'Unreasonable'

A Delhi Court on Tuesday denied interim bail to Umar Khalid in relation to the UAPA case alleging larger conspiracy in commission of 2020 North East Delhi riots.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts dismissed Khalid's application seeking interim bail for 15 days for attending the Chehlum ritual after death of his late uncle and to attend to his mother's pre and post medical surgery which is scheduled on June 02.

The Court today said that just because Umar Khalid and other accused have been granted interim bail earlier and have never flouted conditions, it doesn't mean that on every occasion whenever, accused seeks bail, the same should be granted.

The judge observed that attending the Chehlum ceremony of his uncle is not that necessary and that if the relation was so immediate and thick, he would have asked the release at the time of death and not after such a long time.

On mother's surgery, the Court said that Khalid has other sisters who can attend to the mother and that the father can also take care of her.

”Further, as said by the prosecution, the surgery is very simple i.e. just for removal of lumps and there seems to be no actual requirement or help from the side of the applicant. Accordingly, finding the reasons unreasonable, the Court doesn't deem it appropriate to grant the desired relief t o the applicant,” the Court said. 

The Delhi Police had opposed the interim bail plea saying that release of Khalid may have implications on public order and administration considering the sensitivity and wider ramifications of the case.

It was argued that the interim bail plea is wholly misconceived, devoid of merits and liable to be dismissed at the threshold as no exceptional, urgent or compelling circumstance exists warranting grant of interim bail to Khalid.

FIR 59/2020 registered against Khalid contains stringent charges including Sections 13, 16, 17, 18 of the UAPA, Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act and Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act,1984 and other offences under Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Others who were charge-sheeted in FIR 59/2020 include Former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, Meeran Haider and Shifa-Ur-Rehman, activist Khalid Saifi, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Salim Malik and Athar Khan.

A supplementary charge-sheet was thereafter filed in the case against Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.