Bail plea of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam rejected by Delhi HC
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New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam's regular bail applications in the wider conspiracy case involving the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
Following arguments from both sides, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Court rejected the bail applications.
Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam had sought regular bail in the case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other penal provisions, IANS reported.
Last month, the trial court issued notice on their bail applications and directed the Delhi Police to file its response.
In his plea, Sharjeel Imam contended that despite the passage of more than six months since the Supreme Court rejected his bail application in January, there had been no meaningful progress in the trial.
He had submitted that arguments on the question of framing of charges were yet to be concluded and that he had remained behind bars for nearly six years in the case.
Umar Khalid had also sought regular bail before the trial court. Both applications were heard together by the Karkardooma Court.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court dismissed the bail pleas of Khalid and Imam, holding that the prosecution material disclosed prima facie grounds attracting the statutory embargo on the grant of bail under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA.
At the same time, the apex court granted bail to five other accused in the case -- Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed.
The case pertains to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots and is being investigated under the provisions of the UAPA and other penal laws.