The Supreme Court on Friday, September 12, 2025, adjourned the hearing of bail petitions filed by student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and Meeran Haider in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The case has been posted for further hearing on September 19 before a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria.
The activists’ lawyers argued that the trial has been delayed excessively and sought bail, citing parity with other co-accused who have already been granted relief. Among them, Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, and Asif Iqbal Tanha were granted bail in June 2021, while former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan was released in March 2022.
Earlier, a division bench of the Delhi High Court, comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur, had rejected the bail applications, stating that the riots were not “a regular protest” but a “premeditated, well-orchestrated conspiracy.” The High Court noted that allowing “unfettered” protest rights in such circumstances could harm the constitutional framework and disrupt law and order. It also observed that the accused had delivered inflammatory speeches that appeared to incite communal tensions, making their role “prima facie grave.”
During the Supreme Court proceedings, Justice Aravind Kumar noted the difficulty in taking up the matter, saying the files for the supplementary list had only been received at 2:30 am. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and C.U. Singh appeared for Umar Khalid, Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented Gulfisha Fatima, and Siddharth Dave appeared for Sharjeel Imam.
The petitions challenge the Delhi High Court’s September 2 judgment dismissing their bail applications. The Supreme Court’s adjournment provides the petitioners more time before the next hearing scheduled for September 19.
