Saralnama
The Delhi High Court on September 2, 2025, denied bail to student activists Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, who remain jailed in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur also rejected bail pleas of seven other accused, including United Against Hate founder Khalid Saifi and student activist Gulfisha Fatima, stating all appeals were dismissed. Tasleem Ahmad was similarly denied bail by a separate bench. The court had reserved its verdict on July 9. The 2020 riots erupted on February 23 after clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act, resulting in 53 deaths and hundreds injured. The accused, booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, argued for bail citing prolonged custody and slow trial progress. However, the Delhi Police opposed bail, describing the riots as a well-orchestrated conspiracy to divide the country and damage its global image. Earlier, three accused were granted bail in 2021. The court’s decision maintains the incarceration of the key accused amid ongoing trial proceedings. (Updated 2 Sep 2025, 17:54 IST; source: link)