Former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader and activist Umar Khalid has once again approached the Delhi High Court seeking regular bail in the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. He has also sought interim bail, arguing that he has remained in jail for nearly six years while the trial has made little progress.
Khalid, who is booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), challenged the July 4 order of a Karkardooma court that rejected his regular bail plea. His appeal is listed before a Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan on Friday, July 31.
Umar Khalid seeks interim bail pending Supreme Court ruling
Along with his regular bail appeal, Khalid has filed a separate application seeking interim bail. He told the High Court that the Supreme Court is currently examining an important legal issue—whether prolonged incarceration and delays in trial can justify granting bail despite the stringent restrictions under laws such as the UAPA.
According to his plea, different Supreme Court benches have expressed differing views on the issue, which has now been referred to a larger bench. Khalid has requested interim bail until the apex court settles the legal question.
Plea cites delay in trial
In his appeal, Khalid argued that although the Supreme Court rejected his earlier bail plea on January 5, more than six months have passed without any significant progress in the trial.
He submitted that arguments on framing charges are still continuing despite his continuous detention since September 2020.
The plea contends that the prolonged incarceration, coupled with the slow pace of the proceedings, justifies reconsideration of his bail request.
Trial court had rejected bail
On July 4, Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Court rejected the regular bail applications of Umar Khalid and co-accused Sharjeel Imam.
The trial court held that it was bound by the Supreme Court’s January 5 order, which had rejected their earlier bail pleas. The apex court had permitted them to apply for bail again only after either the examination of the prosecution’s protected witnesses was completed or one year had elapsed from its order, whichever occurred earlier.
The trial court observed that neither of these conditions had been fulfilled, making the fresh bail applications not maintainable.
During the hearing, the prosecution opposed the pleas, arguing that there had been no significant change in circumstances since the Supreme Court’s earlier decision. It also informed the court that Khalid’s review petition against the apex court’s order had already been dismissed.
Khalid remains in judicial custody in connection with the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. The Delhi High Court is now expected to consider both his regular bail appeal and his request for interim relief.
