Umar Khalid Moves Court Seeking Bail In Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case

Former JNU scholar and activist Umar Khalid has moved a Delhi Court seeking regular bail in connection with the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of Karkardooma Courts sought response of the prosecution on the bail plea and listed the matter for hearing on March 11.

The fresh bail plea has been moved by Khalid after he recently withdrew his plea seeking the relief from the Supreme Court. Khalid had challenged the decision of the Delhi High Court denying him bail in October 2022.

Khalid has now moved a fresh application under Section 437 of Cr.P.C read with Section 43D (5) of UAPA.

This is the second regular bail plea filed by him before the trial court. His first plea seeking regular bail was dismissed by the trial court in March 2022.

Khalid has been behind bars since September 2020, awaiting his trial under the UAPA for his alleged involvement in the larger conspiracy surrounding the communal violence that broke out in February 2020 in the national capital.

He has been accused along with various others, including Pinjra Tod members Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha, and student activist Gulfisha Fatima.

Others who have been charge-sheeted in the case include former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, Meeran Haider, and Shifa-Ur-Rehman, former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain, activist Khalid Saifi, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Mohd Salim Khan, and Athar Khan.

Khalid has been booked under Sections 13, 16, 17, and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.

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