Delhi High Court to Rule on Bail Pleas of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid in 2020 Riots Case

Rapid Summary

• The Delhi High Court is set to deliver its verdict on September 2, 2025, regarding bail pleas of activists Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, and others in a UAPA case tied to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots.
• The Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur reserved orders on july 9 after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense. The decision will be announced at 2:30 p.m.
• Individuals seeking bail include Sharjeel Imam, Umar khalid, Mohd saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Abdul Khalid Saifi, and Gulfisha Fatima.
• Prosecution argued that this was not spontaneous but a pre-planned conspiracy aimed at defaming India globally. Solicitor General tushar Mehta emphasized that long incarceration does not warrant bail under such severe allegations.
• Defense counsel for sharjeel Imam claimed disconnection from the alleged conspiracy; no evidence in speeches or chats sparked unrest per their argument.
• the accused have been charged under UAPA provisions and IPC for allegedly masterminding riots during CAA-NRC protests in February 2020 – incidents which caused 53 deaths and over 700 injuries.
• Bail for these individuals has been pending as as early as 2022 but repeatedly opposed by authorities highlighting it as a “clinical” riot conspiracy enabled thru incendiary speeches touching topics like Kashmir or Babri dispute critical provocations per analysis.

Indian Opinion Analysis

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