January 5, 2025: In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant bail to student leaders Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in connection with the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case. The bench, however, ordered the release of five other co-accused in the same case, drawing a sharp distinction between their roles.
The order was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria, who had reserved the verdict on December 10.
“Qualitatively Different Footing”
The top court justified the denial of bail by citing the “gravity of allegations” against Khalid and Imam. The bench noted that the two leaders stood on a “qualitatively different footing” compared to others, implying that their alleged roles in the conspiracy were more central or severe.
Both Khalid and Imam have been incarcerated for several years and had moved the Supreme Court to challenge a previous Delhi High Court order that had denied them relief.
Relief for Five Co-Accused
While Khalid and Imam remain behind bars, the court allowed the release of five other individuals:
- Gulfisha Fatima
- Meeran Haider
- Shifa Ur Rehman
- Mohd Saleem Khan
- Shadab Ahmad
The court clarified that this bail is not a reflection on the merits of the case or an indication that the allegations have become less serious. To ensure compliance, the bench imposed 12 strict conditions for their release, warning that any violation would lead to immediate cancellation of their bail.
The Conspiracy Allegations
The Delhi Police has consistently opposed bail for the accused, categorizing the February 2020 riots as an “orchestrated, pre-planned and well-designed” attack intended to undermine India’s sovereignty.
On the other hand, the defense has argued that the prosecution lacks concrete evidence. Sharjeel Imam has previously stated in court that he was being labeled an “intellectual terrorist” without any conviction or substantive proof.
The riots, which broke out during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), resulted in the deaths of over 50 people and left hundreds injured.