The Delhi High Court has rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the case concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. The court passed the order on September 30, 2026.
The case has been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other laws. Khalid and Imam have denied the allegations against them.
Delhi High Court Rejects Bail
A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court considered the fresh bail pleas filed by Khalid and Imam. Their petitions followed a July 2026 trial court order that had rejected their bail applications.
Senior Advocate Trideep Pais, appearing for Umar Khalid, had argued that there were changes in circumstances since the earlier proceedings. The defence also relied on a Supreme Court judgment concerning bail under special statutes.
The defence highlighted that charges had not yet been framed and prosecution witnesses had not been examined in the case.
Supreme Court Order Remains Central to Bail Pleas
The High Court noted the Supreme Court’s January 2026 decision, which had denied bail to Khalid and Imam while granting bail to five other accused in the case. The Supreme Court had said the accused could seek bail again either after the examination of protected witnesses or after one year from its order, whichever came earlier.
The Delhi High Court held that it could not modify the conditions laid down by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had also referred broader questions concerning the approach to bail under special laws such as the UAPA to a larger bench after different benches expressed differing views on the issue.
What Is the 2020 Delhi Riots Case?
The case relates to the February 2020 communal violence in Northeast Delhi, which left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured, according to court reporting. Khalid, Imam and others face allegations of involvement in a larger conspiracy connected to the violence.
The allegations remain subject to trial, and the rejection of bail does not by itself amount to a finding of guilt.
5 Key Takeaways
- The Delhi High Court rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
- The case concerns the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots.
- The accused face charges under the UAPA and other laws.
- The court referred to the Supreme Court’s January 2026 bail ruling.
- Charges in the case have not yet been framed, according to the latest reports.
