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Supreme Court rejects Umar Khalid's review petition seeking bail in 2020 Delhi riots case
The Supreme Court dismissed Umar Khalid's review petition challenging its January 5 bail denial in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case and rejected a request for an open-court hearing. The decision reaffirms the prior bail ruling under UAPA and notes Khalid's and Imam's alleged central roles. The development follows previous high court and trial court rulings cited in the article.
Why It Matters
The ruling underscores the stringent approach to bail under UAPA and emphasizes case-specific evaluation over incarceration duration, affecting Khalid's custody status and the conduct of related proceedings.
Timeline
7 Events
Supreme Court dismisses review petition and oral hearing request
April 16, 2026
The Supreme Court dismissed Khalid's review petition challenging the January 5 bail denial and rejected the request for an oral hearing.
Sibal urges open-court hearing for review petition
April 13, 2026
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged that Umar Khalid's review petition be heard in open court rather than in chambers.
Supreme Court bail denial (January 5, 2026)
January 5, 2026
Supreme Court bench (Kumar and Anjaria) held that the material on record disclosed a prima facie case and denied bail to Khalid and Imam under the UAPA, noting their central role in the conspiracy.
Delhi High Court bail order (September 2025)
September 2025
The Delhi High Court, in September 2025, refused bail to nine accused in the case and described Khalid and Imam as intellectual architects of the violence.
Khalid in custody since September 13, 2020
September 13, 2020
Umar Khalid has been in custody since September 13, 2020.
Delhi riots in northeast Delhi
February 2020
Communal violence occurred in northeast Delhi in February 2020, leaving 53 people dead and hundreds injured.
Imam imprisoned in January 2020
January 28, 2020
Sharjeel Imam was incarcerated starting January 28, 2020, as part of the Delhi riots conspiracy case.