Umar Khalid granted bail in Delhi riots case

A sessions court in Delhi granted bail to ex-JNU student Umar Khalid in the North-east 'Delhi riots' case on Thursday. He was granted bail by Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav in relation to the anti-Muslim pogrom that took place in Khajoori Khas last February.

"Be that as it may, it is relevant to note here that said Prosecution witness is also a witness in case FIR No.59/2020 (main UAPA case) in which case also the "criminal conspiracy" angle is being investigated by Special Cell of Delhi Police. In the said case the statement under Section 161 CrPC of PW was recorded on 21.05.2020, on which date he did not utter a single word against the applicant qua "criminal conspiracy" and now all of a sudden, he vide his statement recorded under Section 161 CrPC in the matter on 27.09.2020 blew the trumpet of "criminal conspiracy" against the applicant. This prima facie does not appeal to the senses," said the court in its order, as reported by The Indian Express. The court also noted that no witnesses testified to him being at the crime scene.

The bail is subject to furnishing a bond of Rs 20,000 and the condition that he shall not tamper with evidence or influence any witnesses while maintaining peace and appearing for every date of the hearing, reports LiveLaw.

However, he would continue in jail as he is yet to be granted bail in a UAPA case related to the Delhi riots. Earlier, he had received bail in another case. He was arrested last October.