2020 Delhi riots case: Delhi High Court refuses bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam

Umar Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) rejected the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in a case concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 North-East Delhi riots.A Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Dinesh Bhatt dismissed the duo’s third bail applications in the case.The court said it could not alter the Supreme Court’s January 5 order, which permitted Mr. Khalid and Mr. Imam to seek bail upon completion of the examination of protected witnesses or on the expiry of one year from the date of the order, whichever is earlier.Both are accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with allegations that they were among the “masterminds” of the conspiracy behind the riots, in which 53 people were killed and more than 700 injured.The case, investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell, also names activist Khalid Saifi and former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, among others, as accused in the alleged larger conspiracy.The latest pleas were filed after a trial court rejected the accused’s bail applications for the third time on July 4. Mr. Imam was arrested on August 25, 2020, while Mr. Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020.Opposing the pleas, the Delhi Police had alleged that both were among the “masterminds” behind the riots. Published - September 30, 2026 12:38 pm IST