New Delhi: Former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, who has been in jail in connection with the Delhi riots case, received a significant relief from the Karkardooma Court on Thursday. The court granted him 14-day interim bail so he can attend his sister’s wedding.
Bail Granted for Wedding
Khalid had requested interim bail from December 14 to December 29, as his sister’s wedding is on December 27. The court, after hearing the plea, allowed him interim bail from December 16 to December 29.
Strict Conditions Imposed
The court set multiple conditions for his temporary release:
- He cannot use social media.
- He must not contact any witnesses.
- He may only meet family members, relatives, and close friends.
- He must remain at home or attend only the wedding-related events.
- He must surrender on the evening of December 29.
Case Background
Umar Khalid was arrested in September 2020 by the Delhi Police, accused of conspiring to provoke large-scale violence during the February 2020 Delhi riots. He has been charged under the UAPA along with co-accused Sharjeel Imam and others.
The 2020 riots resulted in dozens of deaths and over 700 injuries, erupting during anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests.
In a previous hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, argued that the violence was pre-planned and not a spontaneous communal clash. He cited evidence such as speeches and WhatsApp chats, claiming it showed intentions to divide communities. He also referenced Sharjeel Imam’s alleged speech calling for “chakka jam” in cities with significant Muslim populations.