Umar Khalid

Doctors, engineers engaging in anti-national activities: Delhi police in SC

The Delhi police on Thursday vehemently opposed the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others in the February 2020 riots case, saying it had become a trend now for doctors and engineers to engage in anti-national activities. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi police, told a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria that the delay in trial was attributable to the accused and they cannot take advantage of it. Raju showed in the top court videos of Imam giving "inflammatory speeches" against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The videos showed Imam giving speeches at Chakhand, Jamia, Aligarh, and Asansol in 2019 and 2020 before the riots in February 2020 riots in Delhi. Pointing out that Imam is an engineering graduate, the advocate said, "Nowadays there is a trend that doctors, engineers are not doing their professions but engaging in anti-national activities." Raju added, "It's not a simple protest. These are violent protests. They a

No evidence linking me to 2020 Delhi riots violence: Umar Khalid tells SC

Seeking bail in the UAPA case linked to February 2020 riots in Delhi, activist Umar Khalid on Friday told the Supreme Court that there is no evidence linking him to violence and denied conspiracy charges against him. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khalid, told a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria that there has been no recovery of funds, weapons or any material evidence linking him to the 2020 Delhi riots. "There are 751 FIRs, I am charged in one, and if it's a conspiracy, it's a bit surprising! "If I (Umar Khalid) conspired riots. On dates in which riots took place, I was not in Delhi," Sibal said and added that no funds, weapons and physical evidence connecting me to violence have been found yet. "No witness statement actually connects petitioner to any act of violence," he pointed out. Sibal submitted that Khalid is entitled to bail on grounds of parity, noting that fellow activists Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and Asif Iqbal Tanha were granted bail

2020 Delhi riots: SC defers hearing on bail pleas of Umar Khalid, others

The Supreme Court observed that the Delhi Police had sufficient time to respond, adding that in bail matters, filing additional replies is unnecessary despite a request for two more weeks

2020 riots: SC to hear bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam on Monday

The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and Meeran Haider in the UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in Delhi. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria is likely to hear the matter. The top court on September 22 had issued notice to the Delhi Police and sought its response. The activists have moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court order passed on September 2. The high court denied bail to nine people, including Khalid and Imam, saying "conspiratorial" violence under the garb of demonstrations or protests by citizens could not be allowed. Besides Khalid and Imam, those who faced bail rejection are Fatima, Haider, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Shadab Ahmed. The bail plea of another accused, Tasleem Ahmed, was rejected by a different high court bench on September 2. The high court said the Constitution affor

Delhi riots: SC defers hearing on bail pleas of Khalid, Sharjeel to Sept 22

The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned to September 22 the hearing on bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and Meeran Haider in the UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in Delhi. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Manmohan deferred the pleas. The activists have challenged a September 2 Delhi High Court order which denied bail to nine people, including Khalid and Imam, saying "conspiratorial" violence under the garb of demonstrations or protests by citizens could not be allowed. Besides Khalid and Imam, those who faced bail rejection are Fatima, Haider, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Shadab Ahmed. The bail plea of another accused, Tasleem Ahmed, was rejected by a different high court bench on September 2. The high court said the Constitution affords citizens the right to protest and carry out demonstrations or agitations, provided they are orderly, peaceful and without arms

Delhi riots case: SC defers bail pleas of Umar Khalid, others to Sept 19

The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned to September 19 bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and Meeran Haider in the UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in the national capital. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria said it received the files very late. The activists have challenged the September 2 Delhi High Court order which denied bail to nine persons, including Khalid and Imam, saying "conspiratorial" violence under the garb of demonstrations or protests by citizens couldn't be allowed. Those who faced bail rejection include Khalid, Imam, Fatima, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Shadab Ahmed. The bail plea of another accused Tasleem Ahmed was rejected by a different high court bench on September 2. The high court said the Constitution affords citizens the right to protest and carry out demonstrations or agitations, provided they are orderly, peac

Umar Khalid calls 2020 riots FIR a 'joke', alleges evidence fabrication

Activist Umar Khalid on Thursday opposed the framing of charges in the 2020 Delhi riots "larger conspiracy" case and told a Delhi court that he has spent five years in custody in this "joke of an FIR". He alleged that evidence was fabricated to implicate him. The arguments on framing of charges were being held before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai. Khalid's counsel, senior advocate Trideep Pais, said, "I have spent five years in custody in this joke of an FIR. This FIR doesn't have the sanctity of law." The case is being investigated by Delhi Police's Special Cell. Pais said the FIR, in which the prosecution claimed that 51 innocent people died, was unnecessary as these deaths are being probed separately. "The deaths of those people are being investigated by 751 different FIRs," the senior counsel said. He alleged that the prosecution initially decided to implicate a person and then targeted him by fabricating documents and filing the chargesheet. "You first decide 'is

Umar Khalid moves SC against Delhi HC order rejecting his bail plea

The Delhi High Court, while denying the bail, stated that while the Constitution grants citizens the right to protest, "the right is not absolute" and is "subject to reasonable restrictions"

'Will approach SC': Sibal on HC rejecting Umar Khalid's bail plea

Days after the Delhi High Court denied bail to Umar Khalid in the Delhi riots case, senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Friday said Article 21 had been violated and "we will approach the Supreme Court" against the "injustice". The Rajya Sabha MP also questioned as to where India's democracy was heading with political parties not raising such issues thinking that this may harm them politically. "We don't want to do the right thing and raise our voice for it. Our lawyers, middle class and society are silent," Sibal said. In an apparent swipe at former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud over his reported remarks that there were at least seven adjournments sought by Khalid's counsel, Sibal said only two adjournments were sought by the defence when the matter was before the Supreme Court. "If the court does not give a verdict for years, are lawyers to be blamed for it. This is the state of affairs of the court. If you don't want to give bail, reject the plea. Why do you have to do 20-30 .

Delhi HC reserves verdict on Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid bail pleas

The prosecution has opposed the release of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and others charged under UAPA in the 2020 Delhi riots case, arguing the violence was pre-planned

Speeches of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel created fear: Delhi police to HC

Speeches by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others created a sense of fear after a common reference to CAA-NRC, Babri mosque, triple talaq and Kashmir, police argued before the Delhi High Court on Thursday. Opposing their bail pleas before Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur, police made its submissions in the UAPA case related to the violence which took place in northeast Delhi in February 2020. "Speeches by Meeran (Haider), Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi and Umar Khalid show a common pattern.. All are on identical lines. They create a sense of fear in the people hearing them..(by talking about) CAA-NRC, Babri, triple talaq and Kashmir," said special public prosecutor Amit Prasad. He said aside from the speeches, Umar Khalid gave an "objectionable speech in Amravati" which was made "viral" at the relevant time. He accused Umar Khalid of deliberately travelling outside Delhi at the time when violence erupted in the capital to evade any responsibility. "There was a concerted plan

Ruthless intensity behind Feb 2020 riots: Delhi Police opposes bail pleas

Delhi police on Tuesday argued in the Delhi High Court that February 2020 riots were a result of "clinical and pathological conspiracy" executed with a "diabolical intention and ruthless intensity". Opposing the pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others seeking bail in the case under UAPA, Delhi Police informed a bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur the "chaos and mayhem on the road" led to the deaths of 53 people, including a policeman, besides devastation of commercial and residential properties. The police said in a case of "grave" offences, the principle of "bail is the rule and jail is the exception" will not apply. "This is the gamut and spread of violence. We have 929 commercial establishments broken and 566 residential units broken. Relief disbursed to the injured is more than Rs 20 crore. With this kind of violence, the case of the prosecution is (that) it is a case of clinical, pathological conspiracy, planned and executed with diabolical ...

Delhi court grants Umar Khalid 7-day interim bail to attend family wedding

Khalid is required to surrender before the Jail Superintendent on the evening of January 3, 2025

'What is the basis of making me accused in Delhi riots case?': Umar Khalid

Former JNU student Umar Khalid on Friday asked before the Delhi High Court the basis on which the Delhi police made him an accused in a UAPA case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi violence. Appearing before Justices Navin Chwla and Shalinder Kaur, senior advocate Trideep Pais argued no criminality was alleged against many persons who allegedly attended the conspiracy meetings or made phone calls post the violence. "There was a meeting; bulk of the meeting is not an accused. How am I an accused? There are two from the meeting who are accused? One Sharjeel Imam and myself. How are we accused when others are not?" asked the senior lawyer. Pais further argued the number of people present at protests, meetings, on calls -- none were made an accused. "What is the basis of making this person or that person an accused is not even known?" he asked. He referred to Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav and filmmaker Rahul Roy who were not accused

Delhi riots 2020: HC to hear pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam on Nov 25

The Delhi High Court will hear on November 25 the bail plea of former JNU student Umar Khalid and student activist Sharjeel Imam in a UAPA case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the communal riots here in February 2020. The two bail pleas, along with similar pleas by other co-accused in the case --'United Against Hate' founder Khalid Saifi and others -- were on Monday listed for fresh hearing before a bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur. The bench, however, did not assemble. The cases were earlier before a bench headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait but the judge was recently transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court as its chief justice. Khalid, Imam and several others have been booked under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence had erupted during the protes

Umar Khalid completes 4 years in jail, still awaits for trial in UAPA case

Former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid has completed four years in jail after being arrested in connection with the 2020 northeast Delhi communal riots. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, after violence between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those against the legislation spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Khalid was in December 2022 acquitted in a case related to alleged rioting, vandalism and arson at a parking lot in February 2020 but remains incarcerated in the second case under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being a mastermind of the riots. The 36-year-old researcher and scholar was arrested on September 13, 2020. While charge-sheets were filed in 2020 and 2022, the framing of charges has been delayed in this case and his attempts to seek bail have been turned down by courts. He has al

HC seeks police's stand on Umar Khalid's bail plea in Delhi riots case

The Delhi High Court sought the city police's stand on Wednesday on the bail plea of former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid in a UAPA case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots here. A bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Girish Kathpalia issued a notice to the Delhi Police on the bail plea and asked the agency to file its reply. The court listed Khalid's bail plea for hearing on August 29, along with the bail pleas of other co-accused in the case, including student activist Sharjeel Imam. The court observed that the bail pleas of Imam and the other co-accused in the case were "set for hearing". Khalid, who was arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020, has assailed a recent trial court order refusing to grant him bail in the case. Khalid, Imam and several others have been booked under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly being th

Delhi riots: HC judge recuses self from hearing bail plea of Umar Khalid

Delhi High Court judge Justice Amit Sharma on Monday recused himself from hearing the bail plea of former JNU student Umar Khalid in a UAPA case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the riots here in February 2020. The matter was listed for hearing before a division bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Sharma. This has to go before another bench, Justice Singh said. "List before another bench, of which Justice Amit Sharma is not a member, on July 24," the court ordered. Khalid, who was arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020, has assailed a recent trial court order refusing to grant him bail in the case. Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and several others have been booked under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots in the national capital, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence had erupted during the protests

Delhi riots 2020: HC to hear Umar Khalid's bail plea in UAPA case on Monday

The Delhi High Court will on Monday hear the bail plea of former JNU student Umar Khalid in a UAPA case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the riots here in February 2020. The plea, which assails a recent trial court order refusing to grant bail to Khalid, is scheduled to be heard by a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma. Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and several others have been booked under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence had erupted during the protests against CAA and NRC. Khalid was arrested by Delhi Police in September 2020. On May 28, the trial court had rejected Khalid's plea seeking regular bail for the second time, saying its previous order dismissing his first bail application had attained finality. "When the Delhi High Court has already dismissed th

Umar Khalid's lawyer asks court whether sharing messages is terror act

Rebutting the Delhi Police's argument that former JNU student Umar Khalid was creating social media narratives to influence bail hearings, his lawyer on Wednesday asked the court whether sharing WhatsApp messages is a criminal or terror act. Khalid is an accused in the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 northeast Delhi communal riots. He has been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai was hearing the second bail plea of Khalid before the special court. "The special public prosecutor (SPP) says I created narratives. Is sharing messages (on WhatsApp) a criminal or terror act?... Is the court able to see the ridiculousness of their (prosecution's) attempts to keep someone in jail? Is it wrong for me to forward a message saying someone is wrongly incarcerated? No," Khalid's counsel senior advocate Trideep Pais said. SPP Amit Prasad had earlier said the data from Khalid's mobile phone revealed that he was in