New Delhi: On 2 September 2025, the Delhi High Court rejected the bail petitions of student activists Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, and others accused in the UAPA case related to the 2020 Delhi riots. This decision was pronounced by a division bench of Justice Naveen Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur.
Earlier on July 9, the court had reserved the decision after hearing the arguments of all the parties. Those whose bail petitions were rejected include:
- Sharjeel Imam
- Umar Khalid
- Gulfisha Fatima
- Khalid Saifi
- Meeran Haider
- Mohammad Salim Khan
- Shifa ur Rehman
- Athar Khan
Arrest and case
- Sharjeel Imam was arrested on 25 August 2020.
- Umar Khalid was arrested on 14 September 2020.
- Other accused were also arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police at different times.
All of them have been booked under UAPA, i.e., the ‘Unlawful Activities Prevention Act,’ which is considered a very stringent anti-terrorism law.
What are the charges?
The prosecution says that this is not just a case of riots but of a pre-planned conspiracy. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that it was a deliberate strategy aimed at defaming India internationally. He argued that “just staying in jail for a long time cannot be a basis for granting bail to anyone.”
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Background of 2020 riots
In the riots that broke out in Northeast Delhi in February 2020, 53 people died. More than 700 people were injured. These riots broke out amid ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Big decision of the High Court
It is clear from this decision that the court did not see this matter as just a protest or riot but considered it a serious conspiracy and rejected all bail petitions. This will ensure that all the accused remain in jail until the trial is over or they receive some other relief.
The story is being updated, stay tuned to Dynamite News for further updates.