The Supreme Court denied bail to jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots case today. Five other accused activists have, however, been granted bail by the apex court. Khalid's partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri, posted on X what the jailed said after his bail plea was denied.
What did Umar Khalid say?
Banojyotsna Lahiri posted on X that Umar Khalid was relieved that the five other activists accused in the riot case were granted bail. "'I am really happy for the others, who got bail! So relieved', Umar said," Lahiri posted on X. Lahiri added that she told Khalid that she would come to meet him tomorrow. Banojyotsna wrote, "'I'll come tomorrow for Mulaqat', I replied."
To this, she wrote, Umar Khalid replied that this is their life now. "Good good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai," is what Lahiri wrote that Khalid replied.
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Bail plea denied
On January 5, the Supreme Court rejected the bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots case. The court noted that there was a prima facie case against the two under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA.
The five other activists who were granted bail are Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad.
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The riots in Delhi
The Delhi riots in February 2020 left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. Police allege that Khalid and others were part of a conspiracy behind the violence. The student activists have consistently denied the charges. The trial has not begun yet, and Umar Khalid has already spent five years in jail.
The Supreme Court said that the delay in the trial cannot be used as an excuse to get bail. The seven accused activists were charged under UAPA, along with other sections, for allegedly planning the riots. Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, father of Umar Khalid, is disappointed with the apex court's decision. He said, "It is very unfortunate. The judgment is there, and I have nothing to say about it."
