India News : The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday delivered its verdict in a key case related to the 2020 Delhi riots. The apex court rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, while granting conditional bail to five other accused. The court has also put a one-year restriction on filing fresh bail appeals for the two denied relief.
A total of seven accused—Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rahman, Mohammad Shakeel Khan and Shadab Ahmed—had approached the Supreme Court seeking bail. However, the court refused bail to Khalid and Imam.
Five Accused Granted Conditional Bail
The Supreme Court ordered the release of five accused on bail with strict conditions, laying down 12 specific conditions to be followed. Bail was granted to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa-ur-Rahman, Mohammad Shakeel Khan and Shadab Ahmed.
Case Registered Under UAPA
All the accused were arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly conspiring to incite violence during the 2020 Delhi riots. The Supreme Court had earlier also rejected bail pleas in the case. After hearing detailed arguments from all parties, the court had reserved its verdict on December 10, 2025.
Bail Pleas Rejected Earlier as Well
The accused have argued that they have been in jail for nearly five years and that no concrete evidence has emerged against them to prove their role in instigating the riots. Earlier, on September 2, 2025, the Delhi High Court had also denied bail to all the accused.
Background: Delhi Riots 2020
The case relates to the 2020 Delhi riots, which broke out during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The accused are alleged to have delivered communally provocative speeches during the protests, leading to large-scale violence. The riots claimed 53 lives, including 15 Hindus, and left more than 700 people injured.
The Supreme Court reiterated that while individual liberty is important, the gravity of allegations under UAPA and the material on record did not justify granting bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam at this stage.
