The Interim bail has been granted to former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots larger conspiracy case by a Delhi court, which will permit him to attend his sister’s wedding later this month. The release is preceded by over four years in prison, where several pleas for bail were denied at different court levels.
Court Allows Temporary Release on Strict Conditions
Khalid, after applying to the court on the basis of family circumstances, was granted interim bail. The judge observed that one of the assemblies was the wedding of a sibling, and it was a valid humanitarian reason and allowed temporary release for a given time. The court, however, imposed stringent conditions, including restrictions on movement and the requirement to report, as well as a ban on communications with the media during the bail period.
The authorities reported that the bail is only applicable to dates approved by the Court; after that, Khalid will have to surrender according to the order.
Accused in ‘Larger Conspiracy’ Case Under UAPA
Khalid is still an outlaw charged with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in what investigators call the bigger conspiracy of the 2020 riots. The case claims that several people organized violent demonstrations over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which Khalid has repeatedly been denied.
Since September 2020, he has been imprisoned in Tihar Jail. The Court of trial and the Delhi High Court denied him regular bail earlier, and the Supreme Court is yet to give a final verdict regarding his pending petition before it.
Read also
Defence Argues Continued Incarceration Is Unjustified
His counsel contended that the trial-less extended incarceration of Khalid was contrary to the main rights, such as the argument that Khalid has served longer in jail awaiting trial than he would have even if he had been convicted of many of the related crimes. They also stated that the charge sheets are thousands of pages long and the trial will not come to an end in the near future.
Although the order is an interim bail, it releases the case on humanitarian grounds only.
Prosecution Opposed Bail Citing Security Concerns
The prosecutions were also against the grant of interim bail, stating that Khalid is a strong figure whose temporary release may affect ongoing proceedings. They claimed that the accusations against him are harsh and that he is accused of conspiracy, incitement, and coordination of protests, which in turn resulted in violence.
The court, however, explained that its ruling was not far-reaching and did not carry any opinion on the allegations. It stated that bail was granted with very clear reasons of enabling him to meet a family engagement.
Family Welcomes Decision, Activists Call It ‘Small Relief’
The family of Khalid was thankful for the momentary reprieve, saying that the wedding would not have been complete without him. Some activists celebrated the ruling but noted that interim detention was not the solution to the overall issue of extended pre-trial detention under UAPA.
Several times, rights groups have pointed out that the case underlines the issue of the detainees who are accused under strict laws, such that the trials are slow and one can hardly get parole.
I am a passionate content writer from the Chandigarh–Panchkula region. I am curious and love exploring diverse topics. At DailyBarta.in, I primarily write about video games and sports, bringing readers fresh insights, engaging analysis, and easy-to-understand breakdowns of the latest trends.
