Bail – Delhi High Court Seeks Police Reply on Umar Khalid’s Fresh Plea
Bail –The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Delhi Police to submit its response to a fresh bail petition filed by activist Umar Khalid in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy case related to the February 2020 Delhi riots. A division bench comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan issued notice to the police and granted two weeks for filing its reply before the matter is taken up further.
Court Also Hears Request for Interim Bail
During the proceedings, counsel representing Khalid informed the court that this was his third application seeking regular bail since his arrest in September 2020. The lawyer also requested interim bail while the main petition remains under consideration. After hearing the preliminary submissions, the bench fixed August 27 as the next date of hearing.
The same date has also been scheduled for hearing the bail plea of co-accused Sharjeel Imam. Representing the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju requested the court to hear both matters together, noting that the trial court had rejected the bail applications of Khalid and Imam through the same order.
Challenge to Trial Court’s Earlier Decision
Khalid’s latest petition challenges a trial court order dated July 4, which declined to entertain his bail request. The trial court had stated that it was bound by the Supreme Court’s earlier observations and, therefore, could not grant the relief sought. Referring to the apex court’s order delivered on January 5, the lower court said it had no scope to reconsider the issue independently.
Background of the Delhi Riots Case
Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020 under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Investigators have alleged that he was among the key individuals involved in the larger conspiracy behind the communal violence that erupted in north-east Delhi in February 2020.
The riots claimed the lives of 53 people and left more than 700 others injured. The violence took place during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the proposed National Register of Citizens, triggering widespread unrest in several parts of the national capital.
Special Cell Investigation Continues
The Delhi Police Special Cell is conducting the investigation into the conspiracy case. Apart from Khalid, several others have been named as accused, including Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi and former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain. The investigation has focused on allegations of coordinated planning leading up to the violence, which the accused have consistently disputed through legal proceedings.
Previous Court Rulings on Bail
In September 2025, the Delhi High Court refused to grant bail to Umar Khalid. That decision was later upheld by the Supreme Court on January 5. While affirming the rejection of bail for Khalid, the apex court granted bail to several other accused in the same case, including Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammad Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmad.
The Supreme Court observed that there was a prima facie case against both Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam under the UAPA. It also noted that the role attributed to each accused differed, stating that all individuals involved in the case could not be treated identically because of what it described as a “hierarchy of participation” in the alleged conspiracy.