Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam's jail bid ends: SC says no bail, 5 co-accused get relief in Delhi riots case

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu: Student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been in jail for the past five years in connection with the Delhi riots, have not received any relief from the Supreme Court. After the High Court, the Supreme Court has now rejected their bail pleas. However, five other accused in the same case have been granted bail. A bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria had reserved its verdict on December 10 after hearing arguments from both sides, which has now been delivered.

The Delhi Police opposed the release of both accused and filed a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Supreme Court, while rejecting the bail pleas, took seriously the prosecution's argument that the nature of the case necessitated the continued custody of the accused.

Delhi riots case: Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam will remain in jail, SC denies bail, relief to 5 accused: The court said that this case is allegedly related to terrorist activities. Apart from violence, loss of life and property, such acts also come under this ambit which disrupt essential services and adversely affect the economy of the country. Umar Khalid is in judicial custody since 13 September 2020, while Sharjeel Imam is in jail since 28 January 2020. It was argued on behalf of the accused that the investigating agency is deliberately arresting the accused one by one, due to which the trial process is getting prolonged and the hearing is getting delayed.

It is worth noting that communal violence broke out in several areas of Northeast Delhi in February 2020. The violence, which erupted following long-simmering tensions over protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, claimed several lives and damaged numerous homes, shops, and places of worship.

Following this, the Delhi Police launched an investigation into the violence, terming it an alleged conspiracy related to the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Several social activists, students, and intellectuals were arrested in this case under stringent laws such as the UAPA. These include former JNU student Sharjeel Imam and student activist Umar Khalid. The police allege that their speeches and activities played a role in planning and inciting the violence, although both accused have vehemently denied these allegations.

The evidence presented in court included videos of Sharjeel Imam, in which he allegedly talks about blocking the "Chicken Neck" corridor and separating Assam from the rest of India.