A Delhi court made a significant decision on Tuesday, May 28, regarding the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the 2020 Northeast Delhi communal riots case.
The court dismissed the bail plea of former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid, who stands accused of involvement in the alleged larger conspiracy behind the riots. Khalid has been incarcerated under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) since September 2020.
The bail plea was filed by Khalid after he withdrew his petition seeking relief from the Supreme Court. However, Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai rejected the plea. This decision follows Khalid's unsuccessful attempt to secure bail in October 2022 when the Delhi High Court denied his plea.
Subsequently, Khalid submitted a fresh bail application under Section 437 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr PC) read with Section 43D (5) of UAPA. This marks the latest chapter in Khalid's legal battle, which includes charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act, and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Khalid's co-accused in the case include members of activist groups Pinjra Tod and Jamia Millia Islamia, such as Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Asif Iqbal Tanha, and Gulfisha Fatima. Special Judge Sameer Bajpai had reserved the order on Khalid's bail application earlier this month. The detailed order from the Delhi court is awaited, as it holds the key to understanding the court's decision in this closely watched case.