Delhi, Former Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar and activist Umar Khalid, jailed for over four years, withdrew his bail application from the Indian Supreme Court today. Khalid has been detained under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for his alleged involvement in the Delhi anti-Muslim riots of February 2020, which resulted in significant loss of life and injuries.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Khalid’s decision to withdraw his bail plea follows numerous adjournments in his case, with no substantive bail hearings granted in either 2023 or 2024. The case, which saw dates set for hearings on January 10, 24, 31, and February 1, 7, and 14, has been fraught with delays, leading to today’s development where senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Khalid, informed a bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal of the decision to withdraw due to “change in circumstances.”
The Supreme Court bench accepted the request for withdrawal, noting that Khalid’s bail plea was part of a larger batch of petitions challenging various provisions of the UAPA. Khalid had initially approached the Supreme Court to contest the Delhi High Court’s denial of bail, where it was determined that he had maintained contact with other co-accused and that the allegations against him were prima facie true.
Khalid, alongside others, faces charges under the UAPA and several sections of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly orchestrating the February 2020 riots, which emerged amidst protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). These events led to the deaths of 53 people and injured over 700.
Despite being accused of being one of the “masterminds” behind the violence, Khalid has argued for his innocence, claiming no direct involvement or conspiratorial connection with the riots. The Delhi Police, however, have contended against granting bail, citing Khalid’s speeches that addressed controversial topics such as the Babri Masjid demolition, triple talaq, Kashmir, the suppression of Muslims, and the legislative actions of the CAA and NRC as evidence of his purported role in the violence.
The withdrawal of Khalid’s bail plea marks another chapter in the complex legal proceedings surrounding the 2020 Delhi riots, highlighting ongoing debates over the UAPA’s application and the broader implications for civil liberties and political dissent in India.