Activist Umar Khalid surrendered at Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Sunday after attending his sister’s wedding during a period of interim bail granted by a local court.
A Delhi court had, on December 11, allowed Khalid temporary release so that he could take part in his sister’s wedding ceremonies. Khalid, 38, has been in jail since September 2020 in connection with a case linked to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots, an allegation he has consistently denied.
Khalid had approached the Karkardooma Court seeking interim bail from December 14 to December 29, stating that his sister’s wedding was scheduled for December 27 and that his presence was required for preparations and rituals. The court allowed him to remain out of jail from December 16 to December 29.
While granting relief, the court noted that the request was made for the wedding of his real sister. It directed Khalid to furnish a personal bond of ₹20,000 along with two sureties of the same amount. The court also imposed strict conditions, barring him from contacting any witnesses or persons connected to the case.
The court ordered Khalid to share his mobile number with the investigating officer and keep it switched on at all times. He was also barred from using social media during the bail period and allowed to meet only family members, relatives and friends. He was instructed to remain either at his home or at the wedding venues mentioned in his application.
The court had clearly directed Khalid to surrender before jail authorities on the evening of December 29, after which the jail superintendent was asked to submit a compliance report.
This was not the first time Khalid was granted interim bail for family reasons. A similar request was allowed last year for a family wedding, and in 2022, he was granted a week’s interim bail for his sister’s marriage as well.
