Today, the Supreme Court issued notice in the batch of SLPs filed by Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others, against the order of the Delhi High Court, by which their Bail Applications were dismissed.

On September 19, 2025, the Supreme Court had adjourned the matter.

The Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria was hearing the matter and issued notice.


Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gulfisha Fatima, one of the accused persons in the 2020 Delhi Riots Case, submitted that Fatima was a student and has been detained in jail since 2020.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared on behalf of Umar Khalid. Singhvi requested the Apex Court to issue notice on the application for interim bail as well as the accused persons had been in jail from last five years.

The Court then issued notice in the batch of petitions filed by Gulfisha Fatima, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Umar Khalid and Shifa Ur Rehman.

Thereupon, it was requested by the Counsels that the shortest date be given in the matter, upon which, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal requested that the matter be listed before Diwali.

"They are all in jail for more than five years", said Sibal.

Accordingly, the matter will be heard on October 07, 2025.

Background

On September 02, 2025, the Delhi High Court refused to grant bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and other accused persons in the 2020 Delhi Riots case.

Khalid has been accused of committing large-scale riots in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, in protest against the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). These riots were allegedly carried out by inciting widespread communal violence in February 2020 which resulted in the loss of 54 lives including the death of a Senior Police Officer and an Intelligence Bureau Official, grievous injuries to several Police officers and members of the public, damage to more than 1,500 public and private properties, etc, apart from the other intangible harm caused to the Nation as a consequence.

While rejecting the Bail application of Khalid, the Delhi High Court observed that the role of Umar Khalid was prima facie grave in the entire conspiracy, having delivered inflammatory speeches on communal lines to instigate a mass mobilization of members of the Muslim Community.

The Delhi High Court also opined that the prosecution has strongly alleged about the magnitude, and involvement of numerous conspirators, individuals, and organisations, who were stated to have mobilised thousands of people in protest within the National Capital of India, resulting in 54 deaths, injuries caused to numerous persons and destruction of movable and immovable public and private properties.

Earlier, in 2024, Umar Khalid withdrew his bail plea from the Supreme Court in a case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA over his alleged involvement in the conspiracy behind the northeast Delhi riots of February 2020.

Cause Title: Umar Khalid Versus State Of NCT Of Delhi (SLP(Crl) No. 14165/2025 II-D)

Justice Aravind KumarJustice ManmohanSupreme Court

Pridhi Chopra

    Pridhi Chopra was earlier practicing as an Advocate in Delhi. She pursued B.A. (H) English from Gargi College, University of Delhi, and subsequently pursued a degree in Law.