The Delhi High Court has scheduled a hearing on January 7 for the bail applications of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and other accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case. The case, which involves charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), pertains to the violence that erupted in February 2020 during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur are set to preside over the hearing, with the Delhi Police expected to begin its submissions against the bail pleas. Khalid, Imam, and others have been accused of being the “masterminds” behind the riots, which resulted in 53 deaths and injuries to over 700 individuals.
The bail pleas hinge on several factors, including the length of time the accused have been in jail and the argument of parity, noting that some co-accused have already been granted bail. Most of the accused, including Gulfisha Fatima and Khalid Saifi, initially filed their bail applications in 2022, and the cases have been heard by various benches over time.
Umar Khalid had previously sought bail from the high court last year but was unsuccessful, with his plea dismissed in October 2022. The upcoming hearing follows a postponement from December 20, after counsel for the Delhi Police requested a delay, indicating that additional solicitor general S V Raju would represent the prosecution in the arguments.
