Politics · India · 5 hrs ago
Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam seek bail again in Delhi riots case
Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam have again asked India’s Supreme Court for bail in a case alleging a wider conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots.
The two have been jailed since 2020 and are charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The Supreme Court previously denied them bail but allowed fresh applications after protected witnesses were examined or one year had passed, whichever came first.
Their new pleas say no witness has yet been examined, although the prosecution has listed more than 900, including 47 protected witnesses.
The Delhi High Court rejected their earlier bail requests, saying it could not change the Supreme Court’s order.
They argue that the delay makes continued detention unfair, while the case remains at the stage of arguments on charges.
The Supreme Court must now consider their renewed requests; the sources do not say when it will rule.
Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam have moved the Supreme Court seeking bail in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case.
They argue that a one-year restriction on renewing their bail pleas is nearing its end and that the prosecution has not examined any witnesses.
The restriction allows them to renew their pleas after protected witnesses are examined or one year has passed, whichever comes first.
The Delhi High Court refused their bail pleas on September 30, saying it could not modify the Supreme Court’s order.
The sources differ on how long they have been in detention: one says six years, while the other says Imam has spent six years and nine months as an undertrial.
- Who
- Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, accused in the case.
- What
- They have asked the Supreme Court for bail.
- When
- They filed their petitions on Wednesday, November 5, 2026.
- Where
- In the Supreme Court of India; the case concerns the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
- Why
- They say the prosecution has not examined witnesses and the one-year restriction on renewing their pleas is nearing its end.
Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam
Delhi High Court and trial court
Bail
Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam
Khalid and Imam argue that the delay in examining witnesses supports their release.
Delhi High Court and trial court
The courts refused their pleas, with the High Court saying it could not modify the Supreme Court’s order.
Timing of renewed pleas
Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam
Khalid and Imam say the one-year restriction is nearing its end and that protected-witness examinations are unlikely to be completed by then.
Delhi High Court and trial court
The Supreme Court’s order permits renewed pleas after those examinations or after one year, whichever comes first.
Sharjeel Imam was arrested in the case.
Umar Khalid was arrested in the case.
The Supreme Court denied bail to Khalid and Imam but allowed them to renew their pleas after protected witnesses were examined or one year had passed, whichever came first.
The Delhi High Court refused bail to Khalid and Imam, saying it could not modify the Supreme Court’s order.
Khalid and Imam moved the Supreme Court seeking bail again.
- Case
- Larger-conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots
- Protected witnesses
- 47
- Witnesses cited
- More than 900
- Supreme Court deadline
- January 5, 2027
- Delhi High Court decision
- September 30
- Applicants
- Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam
3 sources
What people are saying
We are of the opinion that on the completion of the examination of the protected witnesses relied upon by the prosecution, or upon the expiry of a period of one year from the date of this order, whichever is earlier, these two appellants would be at liberty to renew their prayer for grant of bail before the jurisdictional court.
on no fair assessment can examination of protected witnesses be expected to commence, much less to conclude, before January 5, 2027 or for a considerable period thereafter.
continued detention is no longer process-oriented and becomes punitive by reason of unreasonable and unjustified delay.