The BRICS TimesUmar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and several others face cases under UAPA and IPC for allegedly masterminding the 2020 Delhi riots. The violence claimed 53 lives and injured over 700 people.
Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing on Bail Pleas
The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on bail applications filed by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider and Gulfisha Fatima in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. The matter, listed before a bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria, will now be heard on September 19. Justice Aravind Kumar noted the difficulty in hearing the case today, explaining that the supplementary list of files was received only at 2:30 a.m.
UAPA Case Linked to Alleged Conspiracy
The bail pleas of Khalid, Imam, Fatima and Haider relate to charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act connected to the alleged conspiracy behind the communal violence in Delhi. The petitions challenge the Delhi High Court’s order of September 2, which denied bail to nine accused including Khalid and Imam.
High Court Ruling on Conspiratorial Violence
The Delhi High Court had earlier observed that conspiratorial violence cannot be allowed under the cover of peaceful protests. The bail pleas of Khalid, Imam, Fatima, Mohammad Salim Khan, Shifa-ur-Rahman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmad and Abdul Khalid Saifi were all rejected. In addition, another accused, Tasleem Ahmad, had his bail dismissed by a separate bench of the High Court on the same day.
The High Court clarified that while the Constitution grants citizens the right to protest or agitate, it must be organized, peaceful, and without arms. Such activities must remain within the legal framework.
Right to Protest Under Article 19
The bench also underlined that participation in peaceful protests and delivering speeches at public gatherings are protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. However, the court emphasized that this right is not absolute and is subject to reasonable restrictions.
Allegations Against the Accused
Khalid, Imam and others have been accused of being the masterminds behind the riots that erupted in Delhi in February 2020. They face charges under several sections of UAPA and the Indian Penal Code. The violence, which broke out during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), resulted in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries.
The accused have consistently denied all charges. Since the riots, they have remained in custody. After their bail pleas were dismissed by the trial court, they approached the High Court, which also rejected their applications.
