New Delhi: Justice Amit Sharma of the Delhi High Court has recused himself from hearing the bail plea of Umar Khalid, a former scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, who is implicated in the Delhi riots conspiracy case.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the case was initially set before a Division Bench that included Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma. This is not the first instance of Justice Sharma stepping away from riot-related cases; he previously recused himself from hearings involving other accused parties from the 2020 Delhi riots, including JNU scholar Sharjeel Imam and human rights activist Meeran Haider.

Khalid, who was arrested in September 2020, faces multiple charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). His legal journey has been fraught with challenges, including multiple denied bail pleas and lengthy custody since his arrest.

His ongoing quest for bail was further complicated when he withdrew his appeal from the Supreme Court earlier this year, citing changing circumstances, only to face another rejection from the trial court in May. With Justice Sharma’s recent recusal, the resolution of Khalid’s bail application faces additional delays.