Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail News Live Updates: SC rejects bail plea of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam

The Supreme Court denied the bail pleas of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, and granted it to others accused in the 2020 north-east Delhi riots. The accused had challenged the Delhi High Court’s decision denying bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The bench, comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria, had reserved its judgment on December 10 after hearing detailed arguments.The defence argued that the trial has seen significant delays, and that the accused, in custody for over five years, have not been conclusively proven to have instigated violence during the riots. Delhi Police opposed the pleas, alleging a premeditated, pan-India conspiracy aimed at “regime change” and economic disruption. The police said the riots were timed to coincide with a US presidential visit and used the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as a “radicalising catalyst” under the guise of peaceful protest.The Delhi High Court had earlier described Imam and Khalid’s role in the riots as “grave,” highlighting inflammatory speeches that mobilised communal sentiments. The Supreme Court’s decision will be a key development in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding one of Delhi’s most serious communal violence cases.