New Delhi | January 5, 2026

The Supreme Court of India on Monday refused bail to student leaders Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been in custody for several years in connection with the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The bench stated that the two stood on a “qualitatively different footing” compared to other accused due to the serious nature of the allegations against them.

Khalid and Imam had approached the court challenging a Delhi High Court order that had denied them bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Supreme Court observed that the gravity of charges against them meant that prolonged imprisonment did not reduce the seriousness of the alleged offences.

At the same time, the Court granted bail to five other co-accused — Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad — highlighting differences in their roles during the riots. The bench emphasized that bail does not imply the allegations are any less serious, and it imposed 12 strict conditions on the released individuals, warning that any breach could lead to cancellation of bail.

The order, which had been reserved on December 10, was read out by a Supreme Court bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjari. The bench made several observations, including:

“The discussion is confined to delays and prolonged detention. UAPA offences are rarely isolated acts, and the legal framework reflects this understanding.”

“Bail is not meant to evaluate the defence. Judicial restraint does not mean abdication of duty; the court must follow a structured enquiry.”

The Court also highlighted Section 15 of the UAPA, which defines a “terrorist act” to include acts that disrupt public services or threaten the economy, beyond causing death or destruction. It reiterated that each bail application under the UAPA must be considered independently, depending on the accused’s alleged involvement.

The Supreme Court also directed the trial to be concluded promptly and urged that protected witnesses be examined without delay.

The Delhi Police opposed bail for all accused, calling the riots an “orchestrated and pre-planned attack” on the country’s sovereignty. Authorities also noted that the riots were allegedly timed to coincide with former US President Donald Trump’s visit to India, attracting international media attention to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) issue.

Supreme Court Denies Bail to Umar Khalid & Sharjeel Imam, Grants Relief to 5 Others in Delhi Riots Case

The Supreme Court of India on Monday refused bail to student leaders Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been in custody for years in connection with the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The bench said the two accused stood on a “qualitatively different footing” compared to others due to the serious nature of allegations against them.

Khalid and Imam had challenged a Delhi High Court order denying them bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Supreme Court observed that while they have been in jail for a long time, the gravity of the charges could not be overlooked.

At the same time, the Court allowed bail for five other co-accused — Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad — making a distinction based on their alleged roles in the riots. The bench clarified that granting bail does not reduce the seriousness of the charges and imposed 12 strict conditions for their release, warning that any violation would lead to immediate cancellation of bail.

The order, reserved on December 10, was read by a Supreme Court bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjari. Some key observations included:

“Bail proceedings focus on delay and prolonged detention. UAPA offences are rarely isolated, and the law reflects this.”

“Judicial restraint does not mean abandoning duty. Bail requires a structured enquiry rather than evaluating the defence.”

The Court also referred to Section 15 of the UAPA, which defines a “terrorist act” to include acts that disrupt public services or threaten the economy, in addition to causing death or destruction. Each application under the UAPA is assessed independently based on the accused’s role.

The Supreme Court also directed the trial to conclude promptly and urged that protected witnesses be examined without delay.

The Delhi Police had opposed bail for all accused, describing the riots as an orchestrated, pre-planned attack on India’s sovereignty. Authorities claimed the violence was deliberately timed with former US President Donald Trump’s visit to India, drawing international attention to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) issue.