Delhi Court Grants 7 Days Interim Bail To Umar Khalid

Activist Umar Khalid, jailed since September 2020, has once again sought bail in connection with the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Khalid faces charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), accused of orchestrating a larger conspiracy to incite communal violence.

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Khalid has moved the court several times, citing delays in the trial, prolonged incarceration, and lack of evidence to support the charges against him. Despite multiple adjournments and rejections, his pleas remain unresolved.

The police claim that Khalid used protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as a cover to incite violence, making provocative speeches to fuel communal tensions. They also accuse him of organizing anti-CAA protests and coordinating with other activists to instigate riots. Further charges allege Khalid sought international funding to support the protests.

In a hearing on December 7, Khalid’s lawyer, senior advocate Trideep Pias, argued that the police had failed to present physical evidence linking Khalid to the riots or the alleged conspiracy. He emphasized that the charges were based solely on a speech Khalid made in Maharashtra, which, he argued, invoked Gandhian principles of non-violence and did not provoke violence in Delhi.

Khalid also refuted allegations of fundraising for terrorism and said that the police had selectively used parts of his speech to create an outrage, disregarding the context of his statements.

The court is yet to make a decision on Khalid’s bail plea, with hearings continuing amid ongoing legal proceedings.