The Delhi High Court has asked the police for their response to Umar Khalid’s request for bail. Khalid is involved in a case connected to the February 2020 Delhi riots, filed under the anti-terror law called UAPA. The police have been given two weeks to provide their answer.
The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the police for their stand on a plea by NRC CAA activist Umar Khalid seeking bail in a case filed under anti-terror law UAPA on the “larger conspiracy” connected to the February 2020 Delhi riots in northeast Delhi, which claimed the lives of at least 53 people.
A bench comprising Justices Pratibha M. Singh and Vikar Mahajan issued notice and asked the Delhi police to file its response within two weeks.
Khail’s representative highlighted that it was the activist’s third bail application since his arrest, which occurred in September 2020. The representative also said that Khalid was seeking interim bail in the case on the basis of similar relief given to the co-accused by the Supreme Court.
The bench, in the meantime, declared that it would hear Khalid’s plea on August 27, the day the bail plea of co-accused Sharjeel Imam is also scheduled. Khalid has challenged the decision of the trial court of July 4 of dismissing his bail application.
Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju, who appeared for Delhi Police, said that the same trial court order also rejected Imam’s bail plea.
“Considering the overlapping nature of the matter, issue notice. Let the reply be filed in two weeks. Rejoinder in two weeks. (List the matter for) August 27, along with Imam,” the bench said.
Khalid has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). It was alleged that Khalid was one of the masterminds of the February 2020 riots.
It unfolded amidst the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC). In the same case, activist Sharjeel Imam and others were also booked. The case is being investigated by Delhi Police’s Special Cell.
On September 2, 2025, a High Court division bench denied bail to Khalid. While the Supreme Court upheld this decision on January 5, it did grant relief to his co-accused Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammad Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad.
