Court Rejects Bail Plea Of Umar Khalid And Sharjeel Imam In 2020 Riots Case
Delhi court denies bail in 2020 riots case again.
A Delhi court on July 4, 2026, rejected the fresh regular bail pleas of student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the case linked to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Courts, marking yet another setback for the two accused who have been in judicial custody for several years.
The court’s decision came after detailed arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. Counsel representing Khalid and Imam argued that the accused had been in custody for nearly six years while the trial had made limited progress. They also contended that ongoing arguments on framing of charges and recent Supreme Court observations in a separate case related to prolonged incarceration under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) warranted reconsideration of their bail requests.
The defence cited a Supreme Court judgment delivered on May 18 by Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan in another matter, where bail was granted to an accused in a narco-terror case. However, the Delhi Police opposed the bail applications, arguing that there had been no significant change in circumstances since the earlier rejection of bail by the Supreme Court in the present case.
Also Read: Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Await Delhi Court Decision On Bail In Riots Conspiracy Case
The prosecution maintained that Khalid and Imam were allegedly involved in a larger conspiracy and held senior roles distinct from other co-accused who have already been granted bail. The court, in its order, observed that the Supreme Court ruling cited by the defence did not override binding directions in the present case and noted that related legal questions were already under consideration by a larger bench of the apex court.
The case stems from the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020 during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The riots left more than 50 people dead and caused widespread injuries and damage, leading to multiple investigations by the Delhi Police. Khalid and Imam have been charged under provisions of the UAPA, the Indian Penal Code and other laws.
With the latest ruling, both accused will continue to remain in judicial custody. However, they retain the legal option to challenge the decision before a higher court as the broader trial and related proceedings in the alleged conspiracy case continue.
Also Read: Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Await Delhi Court Decision On Bail In Riots Conspiracy Case
